La La Land Review

La La Land

Release Date: 12th January 2017 - Australia

Production Companies
Summit Entertainment (presents)
Black Label Media (in association with)
TIK Films Limited (in association with)

Impostor Pictures
Gilbert Films
Marc Platt Productions

Distribution
eOne

Genre: Musical/Romance/

Comedy/Drama 

Rating: M

Runtime: 128 minutes

Budget: $30,000,000

Box Office Gross: $540,927,621 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary 

Aspiring actress Mia and stubborn yet talented jazz musician Sebastian struggle to make ends meet in a city that breaks hearts and shatters hopes. They fall in love as they work toward their goals. But as success mounts, their struggles and differing pursuits tear them apart, including their relationship.

Cast

Emma Stone - Mia

Ryan Gosling - Sebastian

J.K. Simmons - Bill

Rosemarie DeWitt - Laura

John Legend - Keith

Jason Fuchs - Carlo

Finn Wittrock - Greg

Josh Pence - Josh

Callie Hernandez - Tracy

Jessica Rothe - Alexis

Sonoya Mizuno - Caitlin

Claudine Carino - Karen (The Waitress)

Tom Everett Scott - David

Damon Gupton - Harry

Meagen Fay - Mia's Mom
Olivia Hamilton - Bree (Gluten Free Girl)
John Hindman - Frank (Director)

Valerie Rae Miller - Amy Brandt
Christopher Michael Stevens - Malcolm
Keith Harris - Cole
Kaveh Rastegar - Tom
Tom Everett Scott - David
Camryn Ray Cavaliero - Mia's Daughter
Zoe Hall - Chelsea

Marius De Vries - Clyde (Pilot Director)

Crew

Writer/Director - Damien Chazelle
Executive Producer/Unit

Production Manager - Michael Beugg

Executive Producers -

Mike Jackson, Thad & Trent

Luckinbill, Jasmine McGlade,

Molly Smith, Qiuyun Long and

Ty Stikorius

Executive Producer/Writer/Performer:

"Start a Fire" - John Legend

Producers - Fred Berger, Gary Gilbert,
Jordan Horowitz and Marc Platt
Casting Directors - Deborah Aquila and
Tricia Wood

Production Designer - David Wasco

Art Director - Austin Gorg
Set Decorator - Sandy Reynolds-Wasco

Costume Designer - Mary Zophres

Director of Photography - Linus Sandgren

Location Manager - Robert Foulkes

First Assistant Director - Peter Kohn

Choreographer - Mandy Moore

Stunt Coordinator - Mark Kubr

Stunt Coordinators: Additional Photography -
Charles Croughwell and Jake Lombard

Special Effects Coordinator - Jeremy Hays

In-House Visual Effects Supervisor -

John L. Weckworth
Visual Effects Supervisors: Crafty Apes -

Chris & Tim LeDoux

Traditional Matte Painting - Rocco Gioffre

Matte Photography Supervisor - Ted Rae

Film Editor - Tom Cross

Re-Recording Mixer/Sound Designer/

Supervising Sound Editor - Ai-Ling Lee

Supervising Sound Editor - Mildred Iatrou

Production Sound Mixer - Steven Morrow

Re-Recording Mixer - Andy Nelson

Songs: Lyrics - Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

Songs: Music/Score Composer and

Orchestrator - Justin Hurwitz

Additional Vocals/Executive Music Producer/

Writer: "Start a Fire" - Marius De Vries

Music Supervisor - Steven Gizicki

Review

A completely refreshing modern take on a musical that revives the vintage style of films like Gene Kelly's Singin' in the Rain. Very few people haven't seen LA LA LAND since it came out in 2016 - it is about to take home the Oscars this year. Audiences are attracted to Damien Chazelle's painstakingly jazz-themed musical following the director's success with Whiplash. This film is a present-day love story with a bittersweet ending, as the two dreamers grow apart because of the entertainment industry's demands. LA LA LAND was a sure-fire hit as most audiences were favourable to its passion, although some were unenthusiastic.

The film blends romantic comedy and melodrama, thanks to Chazelle's superb script and direction. It blends beautiful musical compositions, splendid cinematography, and stunningly choreographed numbers, which were the showstoppers of this bona fide musical. I am surprised that actors Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling have worked together in other films before LA LA LAND. The lead actors are perfect in their unique roles, particularly Stone, whose character, like herself, is an actress who dreams of living her life as a leading lady. Gosling is a man of many talents and emerges as a romantic lead: a down-on-his-luck jazz musician. To prepare for their roles, they started singing and took piano lessons. Their chemistry was very subtle but full of heart and sorrow.

You don't want to miss the film, as people are lining up at the cinemas to see it. LA LA LAND is ahead of its time as the best musical. If you want to see a musical, now is the time to experience this movie's music and beat.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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