“La La Land”: A Surprisingly Modern Musical

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Julia Berry (11th), Reporter

La La Land opens with a large number where cars are stuck in the typically congested Los Angeles traffic when the drivers decide to break into song. This song, “Another Day of Sun,” describes how each day brings new hope for young and aspiring artists.

After the huge, theatrical introduction to a city of hopeful artists, the movie introduces pianist Sebastian (played by Ryan Gosling) and actress Mia (played by Emma Stone).

In their first scene together, the two playfully mock each other. In the past, Stone and Gosling have starred in movies together such as, Crazy, Stupid, Love and Gangster Squad. In these films, their chemistry was undoubtedly strong and this is continued in La La Land.

In the scene where Sebastian and Mia walk over Hollywood Hills as the sun is setting, it is apparent that they have a clear attraction to each other. Although they continue to deny they are on a date, the audience remains hopeful.

They get to talking and start to see that they are not so different after all. Both characters have huge dreams that are unfortunately out of reach. Mia works as a barista at a coffee shop during the day and at night she is tired of going on worthless auditions where producer doesn’t even look up from their phone. To pay the rent, Sebastian is forced take gigs that aren’t his first choice such as; Christmas carols and show tunes at restaurants. Sebastian longs to open his own Jazz club but that is not going as planned.

Like any other happy movie, their dreams do eventually come true. However, does success come at too high a cost? As success mounts, Sebastian and Mia are faced with decisions that begin strain on their relationship and the dreams they worked so hard to maintain.

Writer Owen Gleiberman says, “I liked La La Land a lot the first time I saw it, but I confess that I didn’t fall head over tap shoes in love with it until I’d seen it a second time. That’s just the way it happens with certain movies; even a great one can kick in more fully on the second date. “La La Land” isn’t just a stylized nostalgia trip of champagne montages and harmonizing hearts. It’s a filmmaking trifecta — it hooks the heart, the eye, and the mind. And once it snags you, it keeps getting better.”

I too saw it two times and I couldn’t agree more. La La Land won fourteen Golden Globe awards because it was made so beautifully. It serves to remind us that musicals do still have a place in the world of films and this musical in particular can turn anyone into a hopeless romantic.