This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.
travis ⚖🎃’s review published on Letterboxd:
This review may contain spoilers.
La La Land is a movie I was not expecting to like as much as I did. I knew it was a romance and I don’t hate romance movies but I figured it was going to be a 8-9/10 movie. Although I would’ve enjoyed slandering it for the funnies if it was lower than that. But I was pleasantly surprised by how impactful, hard hitting, emotionally subtle it was.
Music: Amazing. From both beginning to end, the songs was great, the choreography was great, and at times both sonically and aesthetically pleasing. The orchestral music never missed (when has it ever though?) and Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling’s singing voices were top notch. And the piano at the end was soulful and bittersweet much like the tone of the film.
Cinematography: Amazing. There are so many shots that took my breath away and made me think I wanted that as a wallpaper and by the end I didn’t know which shot I wanted more. And the montage at the end of the movie was beautiful both visually and emotionally.
Direction: Superb. There were so many great scenes that were beautifully and subtly directed. Whether it’s through use of handheld movement or stuck in one position, Damien Chazelle’s direction helped sell the movie as well as it did and I cannot see a director who could use the material and use it as well as he did.
Acting: The Acting was amazing. My first Emma Stone movie after 10 years almost did not disappoint. Her performance as a leading lady was the best I’ve seen this year so far, and Ryan Gosling’s performance was nothing to disregard either. You could really feel the chemistry and complicated feelings and tension there.
Writing: the writing of Sebastian and Mia was amazing. You could tell each one had different motivations and ways of thinking that drive them to be who they are and why they are attracted and attached to each other. They become believable and flawed and human and despite their flaws, you want them to succeed. Beautiful.
Story:
While I consider the beginning (the first five minutes or so) to be pretty weak, the movie progressively gets stronger and stronger both in writing, musically, vocally and tone.
Winter (1): As I said it’s starts off weak for me. The song with the unrealistic song and dances was not my thing. But right after that we meet the two main characters, Sebastian and Mia, who are both at low points in their lives and careers.
Sebastian, wanting to make it as a jazz musician but lacks both financial and emotional support in his dream, and Mia, who wants to be an actress but is often snubbed. This I believe is what drew the two to each other, as both were at low points and lacking someone to support them, all seeds which show to me that they were never meant to be together as they were not compatible for long term relationships. More so a bond that extends past both platonic and romantic attachments.
The movie at this point, shows the comedy and chemistry which is one of many things that made the movie special. “You do not suggest “I Ran” to a serious musician.” With Sebastian’s standoffish attitude, isolating behavior and front of self confidence melting away and growing more genuine and supportive and open to both himself and others. throughout his constant interactions with Mia. And Mia in turn, had someone who understood being put down time and time again and someone who also had high aspirations and dreams and kept working at it like she did.
Spring/Summer: the point where it can only go up from here. This is where Sebastian and Mia grow closer to each other and grow as people. This is where they felt the most in love and happy with both themselves and each other. As things were looking the best for them and they had the people who supported them (each other) when no one else did. Along with some cool ass song and dances
Fall: this is where it metaphorically reached the deepest low for both characters. As things were looking down for both in their career, so it was in their relationship. This is where a lot of festering emotions and self doubt exploded into a big argument at their shared apartment. Causing Mia to leave and Sebastian, who missed her play, which got negative responses and low turnout to go after her. After a couple of days where they don’t have contact with each other, Seb gets a call from their agency while they’re looking for Mia saying she got a callback. He in turn gives it his all to convince Mia to give it one last shot. Which as a result subsequently lands her the role and explodes her acting career from then on. They in turn part, saying how they’ll love each other and have one last moment together.
Winter (2): the film ends where it begins. The numerous callbacks to past lines and scenes in the beginning of the movie seals the deal for me in increasing the replay value and also rewarding your attention and highlighting the growth of these two characters since those initial moments 5 years ago. Mia is a successful actress, however she is married to someone else and has a child with them. While Seb has his jazz club as he always wanted but made changes based on both Mia’s suggestions and his own growth and more open thinking. The very end of the movie with the piano sequence is amazing. It plays the song that Sebastian was playing when he and Mia first met at the restaurant. And it plays a montage of what could’ve been. With scenes that showed after the end of “Fall” but with Sebastian and Mia having children, getting married, going to each other’s shows and performances and having an ideal perfect life. However what’s not what it was nor could’ve been. As they could not have had that relationship as life and their own personal choices got in the way of that, and while they may be moving on, they will never forget each other nor what they did for the other when they needed it.
Final Thoughts:
La La Land is a movie that captivated, moved, and stunned me in ways I never would’ve expected. One of my all time favorites easily. I loved almost every minute of of it. Would watch again. 10/10.
