Stewart and I saw LA LA LAND and I’m finding writing a review to be as complex as this Hollywood story. While their acting was great, with Emma Stone as Mia, an aspiring actress, and Ryan Gosling as Sebastian, a musician who dreams of owning his own Jazz club where he can play the music he loves, neither are known for their singing voices, the songs weren’t catchy nor memorable, and aside from the opening scene which was spectacular, the other dance routines were not.
However, on a positive note, the chemistry between the stars was smooth; I loved their interaction. And artistically, the film – written and directed by Damien Chazelle – was very ambitious.
It starts off with an over-the-top theatrical number (dance and song) on the Los Angeles freeway. Then it becomes a jukebox musical that tells a story. Then it adds real dialogue. The two main characters do a “Singing in the Rain” style number, and of course, they fall in love.
Then, unexpectedly Sebastian is invited to join a band (John Legend is the lead singer). The gig pays lots of money, but life is on the road. And after her attempt at writing, producing and starring in her own one-woman show, Mia gets an acting role in a movie, her dream come true, but it takes her to Paris for eight months of filming. So Mia and Sebastian wish each other well and, in spite of their undying love, separately go on to follow their passions. A typical Hollywood story – hence the title “LA LA LAND”.
Five years later we see Mia and Sebastian again, but I won’t give away the ending. After all, if Stewart sat through it, so can you!