“La La Land” may inspire more filmmakers to give this genre another spin. Another Day Of Sun (from LA LA LAND) Audition (The Fools Who Dream) (from. Hit musicals have tended to be stage adaptations a la “Chicago” or “Mamma Mia!” with song performance showcases a la “Pitch Perfect” or grind-’em-ups like “Magic Mike” filling the song-and-dance void.īut truly original musicals where characters burst into song and dance out of sheer joie d’vivre have been rare indeed. La La Land features fresh-sounding songs and an award-winning soundtrack. Musicals used to be a staple on the big screen, but in recent years have been neglected for trendier fare. But he is not slavishly devoted to it.īy fusing retro and modern he has reinvigorated a genre sadly in need of it. Like his characters, Chazelle reveres the past. The moviemaking itself has become more elaborate. Jazz purist Sebastian moved beyond the cover bands and pop music that tormented him, while pragmatic Mia triumphs beyond her dreams. Gosling and Stone are appealing enough hoofers without seemingly too polished their song-and-dance routines fit their aspiring characters.īy the movie’s end, both have found their way as artists.
And then we saved the ‘Brigadoon’-style soundstage stuff for the final sequence of the movie.”Ĭhazelle’s shooting style gave “La La Land” a looser indie feel than glossier big studio predecessors. “So if there’s a dance number on a freeway, it had to be a real freeway.
“Part of the goal was to not only shoot in L.A., but to shoot L.A. What’s more, he recorded some of the actual singing on location, adding another logistical hurdle to the production.
He shot at familiar spots throughout the greater Los Angeles area, from Griffith Park to Hermosa Beach. And the story itself, about dreamers trying to make it in Hollywood, harks back to classic musicals such as “Singin’ in the Rain.”Ĭhazelle deviated from musical norms by filming on actual city streets rather than studio soundstages. La La Land is a 2016 American romantic musical comedy-drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle. I remember she used to come home and N.C. Mia and her actress wannabes sport candy-colored dresses similar to the ones Catherine Deneuve wore in “Umbrellas of Cherbourg” her apartment seems like a Technicolor throwback to an earlier decade. Damien Chazelle received several awards and nominations for his screenplay and direction, including the Academy Award for Best Director, becoming the youngest winner in the category at 32. from the Damian Chazelle movie, La La Land, starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone Intro N.C. Sure enough, visual allusions to classic musicals soon pop up on-screen.