Commentary by Claire Voltarel, Campus Carrier Staff Writer
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| PHOTO COURTESY OF SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT |
After taking seven awards at the Golden Globes, “La La Land” continues to pack theaters with the multitude of fans it deserves. Beginning with an opening number that could take place in 2017 or 1937, “La La Land” encapsulates the essence of Hollywood with a modern twist. Through unexpected songs and unique cinematography, “La La Land” follows the lives of two Hollywood wannabes looking from the outside into the world of film and music. Their modern struggles to follow their dreams tell a love story as old as time, appreciated by younger and older audiences alike.
The characters’ vintage passion placed in modern day creates a paradox too riveting to resist. Even through classic technicolor dresses and old timey tap numbers, I found myself relating to the characters and becoming further invested. The main characters, Mia and Sebastian, are in the midst of a fight between practicality and following their dreams, all while trying to maintain a relationship. Many couples have similar experiences balancing loved ones and pursuing a career. But the couple finds inspiration in each other to try and make it big in such a difficult business.
Emma Stone plays aspiring actress and playwright, Mia, who is working as a barista in the heart of Hollywood sets. Many failed auditions leave her serving gluten-free muffins to current celebrities. She crosses paths with jazz enthusiast Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), who dreams of reviving the dying genre by opening a club in downtown LA. Their meeting brings about a blossoming, and satisfyingly cheesy relationship. Their love dances among the stars (literally) and elates the heart of any romantic.
One of our first glimpses at their sparks flying occurs when they join in song and dance describing their resentment towards each other. However, the audience sees their connection and enjoyment of each other’s presence. Their sweet-as-candy dates had me giggling like a middle school girl and thinking “goals.”
Before viewing the film, I had not pegged Stone and Gosling as musical types, but seeing them in these roles added to the originality of the movie.
Had the actors been serious Broadway stars, the songs would prove predictable and less entertaining. However, the uncertainty and quirkiness of these specific celebrities create an amusing atmosphere. The musical numbers and montages helped move the story along, with the melody of the beautiful song “City of Stars” acting as a connecting thread. The music was catchy but didn’t always sound theatrical. The soundtrack (which I purchased immediately following the movie) climbed to 2nd place on Billboard’s top 200 last Sunday.
Overall, “La La Land” was well worthy of its successes. Stone and Gosling both took home the Golden Globe for best actor/actress, as they should have. They projected every emotion to their audience; I cried, laughed and swooned during several different scenes.
It gave me a peek inside where all of our favorite movies come from and proved that success isn’t just handed out. I often do not think about the production of films, only their outcomes, so this perspective was refreshing. The show-biz ambiance was grounded in reality, making the movie more believable but still entertaining and in no way predictable.