La La Land (2016)
A movie even musical haters will like.
Presentation:
There are few genres that I don’t like in cinema, and musicals are one of them. The only one I genuinely seem to enjoy is La La Land for the chemistry of the two leads. Damien Chazelle delivers another top notch musical piece after the explosive success of Whiplash. With a bigger budget, everything is more stylized, colorful and extravagant. Pretty pictures in a musical are a given, but the core of a musical should be the music and there are definitely catchy tunes you’ll be listening to after the credits. At the heart of it all is a story that leaves you invested in the characters. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling have so much on-screen chemistry that you would be surprised they never dated outside of cinema.
Conclusion:
Although I liked the ending, I can't help but feel the message of the film to chase your dreams not your loved one is not an apt metaphor for music (Even the musicians should disagree). Regardless, it is refreshingly colorful, unexpectedly leaving you wanting more for an unsatisfying conclusion, which I suppose is actually quite satisfying! Whether it'll make you want to watch it again is uncertain, but you'll definitely want another listen!
Recommendations
Disney’s experimental musical.