The 2016 Sensation of La La Land Movie

Edited by Jenna Albaroudi

Often times the average movie does not capture the true embodiment of what a film should be. Components like actors, cinematography, music, and script need to harmonize in order for a movie to be truly great. Some films have some of these components, and some miss the mark entirely. However, when all four are present, the film has a way of capturing the heart and soul of every person watching. La La Land, directed by Damien Chazelle, accomplishes that very task.

So what is it about La La Land that has already resulted in a whopping 68.2 million in box office according to Fandango on January 11, 2017 and 7 Nominations and 7 Wins at the Golden Globe Awards? The answer is that La La Land proves to be a compelling, action-filled film that incorporates musical theater into a romantic drama starring two distinguished actors: heart-throb Ryan Gosling and the stunning Emma Stone. The two have excellent chemistry throughout the movie that leaves the audience swooning over their love story. It is filled with realistic trials and tribulations that the couple must face, and an outcome that is rather unpredictable in the end. In addition, the screenplay for the movie is captivating. Each scene is carefully crafted so that each sentence is meaningful. . Not only that, but Gosling and Stone both give outstanding performances as well.

The love story is paired with music that transports viewers into another world. Memorable songs such as “Another Day of Sun”, which features a large dance number atop cars stopped in traffic on a Los Angeles freeway, to the up-beat, catchy tune of “Start a Fire”, featuring John Legend and Ryan Gosling’s mad piano playing skills, are enough to make anyone watching dance in their seats. The talented Justin Hurwitz won the Golden Globe for the best original score, which is no surprise after listening to La La Land’s soundtrack.

The film took six years to produce, but . The cinematography in the film is almost majestic. The opening scene, featuring the song “Another Day of Sun” is shot continuously, with no cuts.

“The filming is absolutely exquisite,” An Artistic Cinematography major gushes, “for someone with an eye that is picky when it comes to the camera’s role in a movie, I can confidently say that there is nothing I would change about the way it looks.”Each component of La La Land works together to create something extraordinary; a film that will serve as a role model for the rest of 2017’s movie creations - a film that has transformed the movie industry as we know it.