This look by actress Emma Stone and this song combined is one of the most impactful and romantic scenes I’ve seen in cinema. Well, there are actually three of those scenes in the movie. How is that? I’ll lay it out below. And those familiar with the film will know where I’m going. This short theme plays a lot in the film; more than three times and it’s never dull.
I just see her ‘look’. You can’t teach that. In terms of romantic chemistry between lead actors (Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone) La La Land is on par with Remains of the Day (Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson). I’ve never seen their equal.
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. 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. You can find a lot more information about La La Land in my previous three posts of the movie. Ok, here goes…. Musicals are not my go-to genre in movies and I wasn’t expecting much from the movie when I saw the trailer.
Remember the trailer? She watches him with that look in the same place (parallel universe), but they kiss just after he is fired. Anyone who had watched the trailer and walked into the movie thought they knew what was going to happen after she had entered for the first time. It’s brilliant how they concocted it to deceive the audience’s expectations upon first viewing. I’ve never seen that done before and it worked a charm. So, he brushes her off as seen below and as a movie-goer we are left thinking…wait…what!!!! That’s not what I saw.
Now for the three scenes with the same look by Emma Stone and this music:
The first is when she first hears the theme music and walks into the bar and he shrugs her off. The next is the parallel universe scene as presented in the epilogue and trailer which I wrote about in December, 2021. Then if that wasn’t enough, it’s presented again at the end of the film and each time her ‘look’ and this music is ‘movie magic’. I love this movie.
To quote artsy1987 in the YT comments below:
This movie is a masterpiece. Ive never seen a movie so aesthetic. If only there were more like this. You know, jazzy music, beautiful aesthetic colours, comfound cinematic movie capture. Its just, like a piece a diamond. This movie deserves more attention even after years of released.
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Interestingly, I saved this movie to my tablet just before I read your post!! I remember when it came out, but I’ve never seen it. Ryan Gosling rarely makes a bad movie, so I’ll give it a twirl! How are you Matt? Hope all is good with you. Sharon
What a coincidence! You could download worse movies. The chemistry between the two is spectacular. Haha Let me know what you think. I’m Ok Sharon and how about you?
Why aren’t you better than OK Matt!! Actually, I’m OK also, thank you so much for asking! I’ll let you know how I find La La Land. Have a fabulous weekend!
I wrote an extensive response to this and the feeder put it in the trash. I’m ‘Ok’.. long story, like your story on why you are ‘OK’. I can’t believe I lost all that I wrote!
Please let me know what you thought of La La Land. When I first saw it at the cinema I wasn’t hugely impressed. But something kept lingering in me to see it again. I did 4 more times. That’s my record at the cinema. My kids already want to see it again which will make it perhaps their 20th time. Haha
Such a shame Matt! You wrote a long response and your device chucks it in the trash! Modern technology can be so annoying. That happens when I’m on WhatsApp, you write the longest message ever to someone and you accidently press delete!!! Damn!! Of course I will, when I see La La Land I’ll let you know what I think. Also Remains of the Day! They both sound good! Hope you are enjoying your weekend. Sharon
I basically rewrote to you what I lost. That happens with messages here. I know what you mean about the WhatsApp message dilemma. Have a good weekend! Thank you.
La La Land is a masterpiece! I love it, and have watched it three times.
Only 3! I watched it 5 times at the cinema. I’d be embarrassed to admit how much I’ve seen it in total. I hope this comment doesn’t seem disparaging on my part. It’s not what I intended. Yep, masterpiece.