GOING GAGA FOR LA LA LAND
Fans went gaga for La La Land stars Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone and John Legend Monday night at the TIFF premiere screening of director Damien Chazelle’s musical at the Princess of Wales theatre. Stargazers started their vigil early, a handful waiting since before 7 a.m. to get a spot in the fan zone opposite the theatre in hopes of getting a photo or autograph. More than 1,000 people packed both sides of King St. W. to watch the stars arrive. Among them was Jennifer Barlow, 38, of Rochester, N.Y., who was celebrating her fifth wedding anniversary. She was on the lookout for London, Ont.-born Gosling, waiting in the 200strong fan zone while her husband Robert watched the action from the front of the theatre where he was picking up their La La Land tickets. “I loved him in Drive,” Barlow said. “He’s just a great actor.” The crowd chanted “Ryan! Ryan!” as Gosling got out of a black SUV. Stone, fresh off her best actress win for La La Land at the Venice Film Festival, was greeted with equal enthusiasm. She appeared a bit overwhelmed by the screams and cheers as she moved along the line of raised cellphones, cameras and outstretched hands. Linda Barnard
La La Land review: A musical ode to chasing your dreams that also counts the cost of ambition, wrapped in a candy-coloured salute to L.A. and the movies. Ryan Gosling’s earnest jazzman and Emma Stone’s eager thespian enchant as scrappy lovers and astral trippers, singing and dancing through this unabashed kiss by Damien Chazelle ( Whiplash) to cinema of the heart and soul. TIFF audiences can thrill at seeing a likely Oscar Best Picture contender, as they toe-tap and swoon to La La’s beguiling theme. Peter Howell