Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone) seem destined to be together. At least, one would think so, as they keep running into each other randomly over several months.
First on the highway, as Mia is distracted, running lines to herself on the way to an audition, and Sebastian is the frustrated driver behind her who just wants her to pay attention to the moving traffic.
Then Mia walks in on the moment Sebastian is fired from his job playing incidental music in a restaurant, after his boss Bill (J. K. Simmons) is furious that Sebastian hasn't adhered to the strict easy-listening set list, but instead has been playing his own free jazz.
But it is after they meet again at a party in the hills that they finally get to talking. Both of them are trying to break in to their respective industries, but neither seems to be having any luck.
They strike up a friendship, which leads to a relationship, as they both support each other in their dream careers: Sebastian, as he starts performing with old friend Keith (John Legend) on a tour around the country; and Mia, as she finally tries to venture out on her own and write and perform a one-woman show.
The screenplay, by director Damien Chazelle, is quite good. The characters are very well written, and clearly defined, with realistic goals and conflicts. The story - a romance at its heart - is also a tragedy, as the paths of dreams and reality seldom meet.
The songs, with music by Justin Hurwitz (who also wrote the score) and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, are certainly not your standard musical-type songs. Each song is perfectly suited to the character(s) who sing it, with a big number to open the film (this song is amazing, but more amazing is the choreography of all those background performers), slower jazz songs for Sebastian to sing, and somewhere-in-the-middle for Mia.
The choreography throughout is sensational, and in fact in my opinion eclipses the songs themselves.
But where this film truly shines is in the production design (by David Wasco) and costume design (by Mary Zophres). Both of these elements add so much to the feel of the film. Wasco's design of the sets, filled with vibrant colour, matches perfectly to the stunning costumes, particularly throughout the first half of the film.
The cinematography by Linus Sandgren serves these two elements well also, as we get to see these stunning sets and costumes through the eyes of a constantly-moving camera (at least it feels like it is always moving; it may be stationary from time to time but the action of the scene places you right in the centre anyway).
The cast are all fantastic too, especially Emma Stone, who won an Academy Award for her hard work. Gosling is also quite good, and boy, can he dance!
One can't help but feel nostalgic while watching this, as there is so much respect paid by all involved for the old movie musicals of yesteryear, and the film - while being set in the modern day - feels very much like one of these classics. I will happily watch this film over and over; it's just so beautiful.
8 1/2 out of 10.
No comments:
Post a Comment