La La Land

Originally published: January 14, 2017 

Theatrical release poster, Lionsgate Films

First impressions: This film is all about the whimsy. It flashes you with joyful hues of primary colours red, yellow and blue, on the one hand, whilst allowing you to sink into the smoldering glow of dimly lit theatres and jazz clubs on the other. It is part modernity, part nostalgia, and one hundred percent charm! I can understand the enthusiasm that it inspires and did myself enjoy it, because there really were moments that I dare say were perfect (and yes, they all include Ryan Gosling).

However, beyond the surface level, albeit grade-A, cinematic direction and production, there is little really holding all that magic together. The movie just doesn't know what it is or what it wants — is it a love story? A follow-your-dreams/rags-to-riches/coming-of-age narrative? Musical or melodrama (a "melo-musical")? I really do appreciate that it's trying to be unique and inventive (and, in some ways, it does manage to achieve this), but the good ideas remain a bit too scattered and are sadly all that is left, in the end. The acting is great (wouldn't have expected anything less from either Stone or Gosling), but the characters themselves and their development two-dimensional. The musical theatre elements are both exaggerated and lackluster to the effect of "alright". It is a beautiful film, a fun and romantic film, but not necessarily a "good" one and certainly not a "great" one deserving of all the awards and nominations it has garnered (as much as I would like to think that). Possibly the most impressive thing about it is that Ryan Gosling trained on the piano for three months before filming and did not ONCE use a double ... anyone who knows jazz and sees his performance will know that I'm not just biologically predisposed to think this. So ... he can keep his award, I guess.

In short: La La Land is a film worth it, but not worthy. Expect to be slightly dazzled, to possibly cry a little, and enjoy the feels (if that's what you're into).