Lovers of classic musicals will be swept away by this absolutely unexpected and original film from Damien Chazelle with sizzling lead performances from Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling.
Premiering at the Venice film festival, who could not have wished for a bigger sugar rush to start the proceedings, than with this unapologetic romantic homage to classic movie musicals.
Full of charm and sweet natured bounce, Emma Stone has never been better with her huge doe eyes radiating with and intelligence when they?re not filled with tears.
The opening sequence of La La Land has traffic at a standstill on the high, curving ramp that connects the 105 freeway to the 110 leading to downtown Los Angeles. Most of the cars are occupied only by single drivers, who are all listening to different music. But after a moment, instead of just sitting there simmering, somebody gets out and starts singing and dancing. Soon someone else does the same. Then another, and yet another, until a bad mood has been replaced by a joyous one as the road becomes the scene for a giant musical production number set to an exuberant big-band beat.
The question now is: Are the Oscars calling their name? Only time will tell.
