La ciudad de las estrellas. La La Land

Any chance I could give this 11/10, or a few more oscars, just for being so oscary... such a splendidly heart warming experience

I remember when I saw the trailers for this movie, I thought it would be a sad but sweet love story and nothing more. And while it is that it brings so much more flare and beauty that I would never have expected from this. It took me three years to see it and it far out shone any expectation I had.

This movie is infinitely close to when we were young: arrogant, romantic, dreamy, longing for love, but lack of money. Then when we have tasted the hardships and pains of society and finally achieved something, is the person around you still the one you love the most? Only when you have thoroughly pained and loved, can you understand how difficult it is to be innocent love. Only when you let go can you support your dream and fulfill your pursuit. In the end, Mia's fantasy surprised all the audience. This is the fantasy of all sweet love, and it is the most exciting meaning of this movie. I dare say that if there is no final fantasy, or the hero and heroine are together again, this movie will eventually become a second-rate love song and dance drama. Only if you can't get it, can you fully understand the bitterness and sweetness of youth. After all, the most beautiful love is just a flash in the pan. I love you, but I can only wish you happiness. This is the supreme love. This love becomes a part of life and a belief. LA LA LAND, loving you is like loving part of my life.

I watched this as Oscar's had been handed out and I felt it necessary, as is customary - to grant such films my valuable time.

I hate musicals.

It started as we know in a traffic jam. They started singing. "I hate musicals" I told my wife. "Is this a bloody musical" I asked.

She didn't know.

What followed was without doubt one of the greatest cinematic experiences I've ever had. I smiled, I rejoiced, I wept, I rallied, I wept again.

I'll keep this brief. No matter your movie preference, no matter your music type, if you are breathing and cognisant - I urge you to watch this.

It is beauty beyond my words.

It is life in a fleeting moment.

It is music and dance we didn't know we needed.

It is lifting, it is crushing.

This movie went from "I hate musicals" to "this is the greatest movie I've ever seen" in the course of two hours.

I've listened to the soundtrack countless times.

I hate musicals.

It's beautiful.

I have no articulate means to encourage you to watch this other than this - if this 48 year old wisened Irishman can fall for this, so can you.

So please, watch this - otherwise you may miss a life changing event.

The main characters in this Los Angeles romantic musical are Mia (Emma Stone), a coffee-shop employee with dreams of being an actress; and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), a jazz pianist who aspires to open his own club that plays jazz like it was played in the good old days.

At long last: a movie released during the 2016 awards season that actually lives up to the hype!

Early in the film, there are two superb group musical numbers. The numbers that follow are more low-key relating only to the main characters but they are still well performed and executed.

The stories of career struggle within the broader narrative are very believable. They include the hell of auditioning to people who are too busy plus the desire to maintain the purity of a great music genre (jazz) while too often being told it is "a dying art".

Gosling takes a while to break into the role particularly where the singing is concerned but it's not long before he fits into the part quite nicely. Stone is superb throughout the film. She is even spot-on as an actress giving mediocre auditions. She's given a full range - and not just as a triple threat - and she fully lives up to the expectations especially during the song "Audition" near the end.

There is something uniquely enjoyable about Hollywood portraying itself. The movie also gives nods to great classic musicals like "Singin' in the Rain", "Les Demoiselles de Rochefort", and "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg" all the while being unique and standing out on its own. In addition, the set designs and photography add further to the film's greatness.

The reference to "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg" comes through strongly in the movie's final number. This scene is probably the best scene of any movie in 2016. It leaves one with so many mixed emotions and extreme on either side. The production number is magnificent while its mood is melancholy.

The teaming of director/writer Damien Chazelle with musical composer Justin Hurwitz is one of the best matches since Jacques Demy and Michel Legrand in the 1960s. - dbamateurcritic

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS:

1) Directing by Damien Chazelle

2) Acting by Emma Stone

3) Music by Justin Hurwitz