This movie currently sits at No. 8 on my all-time list of favourite movies. Songs from La La Land have featured here before and I will exhaust the soundtrack by the time this music project is over. Apart from Remains of the Day (1993), I have never seen another movie where two main protagonists had so much chemistry. The composer of the music Justin Hurwitz was a friend of director Damien’s Chazelle at Harvard University. Damien won best director for La La Land at 32 years old, making him the youngest to win the award.
Due to its originality, flamboyance and bizarre parallel universe ending I think La La Land will age well and be regarded a musical masterpiece. It’s Damien’s Chazelle’s ‘Citizen Kane’. It was his passion project which he was able to make after Whiplash became such a big success. For movie trivia fans out there – Chazelle was in an actual band with the pool party singer in the movie.
Today’s musical extract from the movie is from the parallel universe ending. The masterstroke of those who decided what should be in the trailer was to incorporate the kiss in the alternative universe restaurant as seen in the epilogue below. Because when we entered the cinema, we expected Gosling to kiss Emma Stone as it was presented to us in the trailer. That’s genius right there.
The first time I saw La La I wasn’t overly impressed since musicals aren’t really my cup of tea. But the movie resonated in me and I felt compelled to revisit it at the cinema and that’s when I knew I was onto something. I saw it another 3 times at the cinema, which I haven’t done before with another movie. I love La La, even hearing the piano taps now of Gosling I feel sad, but at peace. One for the ages.
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
The Epilogue video captured a story. I’m neither much of a Movie nor a Musical fan but I enjoyed the video thanks Matthew.
I’m glad to watch the video again to harness the sense of someone seeing it anew. Thanks for taking the time to view and comment on my post Bruce. It means a lot.
I am a fan of musicals, a I too love “La La Land”. Such a great script and musical score, and so beautifully acted and filmed. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling were wonderful.
I have no more superlatives for this movie. I am glad I am not the only one who raves about it. Cheers buddy.