Dr. Jayum Asopa’s review published on Letterboxd:
Damien. Chazelle. You. Magnificent. Bastard.
I'm a little late catching up with the films of 2016, but La La Land was every bit worth the wait. I'm stating nothing new here; after all, the immense popularity of this movie is known to everyone in the world of cinema. I just couldn't help, however, writing at least SOMETHING about this glorious adventure.
I'm usually not big on musicals as a genre (Hollywood musicals, specifically) but this little gem of a picture took my generalised opinion, changed it forever and how. The bewitchingly charming songs, the mindblowing performances by Gosling and Stone (with a very well deserved Oscar for the latter), coupled with some of the most beautiful visual sequences I've ever seen. The film feels both real and imaginative. It feels both like a movie and a broadway show.
Everything the characters feel is real and relatable to the viewer, - but how Chazelle managed to blend such genuine emotions with equally strong elements of fantasy, AND managed to make the whole package work flawlessly as though it had been no hard work at all, with no obvious visible inconsistencies in the overall tone of the film, the screenplay or the performances.....I mean, I just don't understand how the man did it. Mr. Chazelle, sir, you are a genius.
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