Luna Challis’s review published on Letterboxd:
first time watching this: this is really good
second time watching this: this is incredible
third time watching this: this is the best film i've ever seen
fourth time watching this: La La Land is a 2016 American romantic musical film written and directed by Damien Chazelle. The film stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as a struggling jazz pianist and an aspiring actress, respectively, who meet and fall in love while pursuing their dreams in Los Angeles. John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt, Finn Wittrock, and J. K. Simmons appear in supporting roles.
Having been fond of musicals during his time as a drummer, Chazelle first conceptualized the film alongside Justin Hurwitz while attending Harvard University together. After moving to Los Angeles in 2010, Chazelle penned the script but did not find a studio willing to finance the production without changes to his design. After the success of his film Whiplash (2014), the project was picked up by Summit Entertainment. Miles Teller and Emma Watson were originally slated to star, but after both dropped out, Gosling and Stone were cast. Filming took place in Los Angeles between August and September 2015, with the film's score composed by Hurwitz and the dance choreography by Mandy Moore.
La La Land had its premiere at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2016, and was released in the United States on December 9, by Lionsgate. The film was a commercial success, grossing $448 million worldwide on a budget of $30 million, and received critical acclaim, with particular praise given to Chazelle's screenplay and direction, the performances of Gosling and Stone, the score, musical numbers, cinematography, and production design. It went on to receive numerous accolades, including winning a record seven awards at the 74th Golden Globe Awards and received eleven nominations at the 70th British Academy Film Awards, winning five, including Best Film. The film also received a record-tying fourteen nominations at the 89th Academy Awards, winning in six categories including Best Actress (Stone) and Best Director. In the latter category, Chazelle became the youngest winner at age 32. It has since been considered to be one of the best films of the 2010s and of the 21st century.
A stage musical adaptation is currently in the works.
