"La La Land" is a Bright and Catchy Depiction of Hollywood Nihilism

Brimming with sixties nostalgia and catchy fantastically composed music, La La Land is a dreamy and colorful depiction of the struggle of starving artists. Starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling as a complicated and endearing actress and pianist, the film captures the struggle faced by creative minded people who long for success (not even necessarily fame, just the ability to make it in the world by doing what they love). Expertly crafted in a fashion reminiscent of Mary Poppins, Singing in the Rain, and The Sound of Music, La La Land opts to depict itself as something mesmerizing in its cheer and optimism rather than the dark and gritty feeling of most recent musicals.

The beauty of La La Land comes from how unashamed it is of being something bright and colorful, while the plot and subject matter within could have easily been used in a much darker and more dismal environment, the film instead takes a leap of faith in a direction rarely taken in the film industry these days, an industry which almost seems desperate to make things even darker and more depressing. As the name implies the line between fantasy is often blurred, which works fantastically with the film's theme of getting lost in the illusion of longing for stardom.

While the film's subject matter is hardly original (there has been an abundance of movies depicting the struggle of starving artists) it perhaps seems more genuine simply because of the unique style in which it is depicted combined with a script and lyrics which seem to have a genuine and true understanding of what it means to long for a career in a field which requires heartbreak after heartbreak before succeeding.

The music to La La Land is absolutely phenomenal, with charming jazzy melodies in the major key that have biting wit in their lyrics, tap dance segments, a distinct flair similar to the likes of Frank Sinatra, and Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone singing in breathy emotional voices sure to send shivers down your spine and tug at your heartstrings. The music is also closely linked to the film's humor, which is charming and whimsical in the classic vibes it brings with its witty dialogue and endearing one-liners void of profanity in a way which makes the film seem oddly timeless. Admittedly, I was concerned that the cameo from John Legend would make the movie feel dated and like a product of 2016, but that's not the case at all, and he succeeds in blending in with the ageless and classic feeling the film has throughout (to the point where it's almost startling to see a character using their modern iPhone).

La La Land is absolutely phenomenal and had it not been for how incredible Nocturnal Animals is it would have been my favorite film of the year, however, it is still absolutely a contender for a close second with its fantastic soundtrack, stunning cinematography, and wonderful performances given by its two leads.