Why I Still Love “La La Land”
It’s not because I have a crush on Ryan Gosling.
By Cate Tarr, Arts Staff Writer
“La La Land” captured my heart when it graced movie theatres and almost won best picture in 2016. Despite adoration and critical acclaim for the film, there are many individuals who don't "get" “La La Land.” They don’t think it has a dramatic plot, a satisfying ending or breathtaking characters.
The film didn’t reel me in with its action, drama or even a beautiful Mr. Ryan Gosling, but rather, with emotion and meaning. These qualities came soaring through the screen, and it was the film's music that carried them.
Written and directed by Damien Chazelle, “La La Land” tells the story of Sebastian and Mia—played by Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone—two artists who fall in love while aspiring to fulfill their dreams of being a famous jazz pianist and actress (Perez, 2017).
Despite divine cinematography and structure, what truly made “La La Land” one of the best films of the decade was its score. Not only are the compositions Oscar-winning masterpieces, but they are vital cogs in the storytelling machine.
The music in the film is diegetic. This means that the characters in the film are experiencing the soundtrack with the audience, creating an immersive and even more emotional experience for each viewer (Walden, 2017). More importantly, it means that the music is constantly pushing the narrative forward.
I still remember the first time I watched Sebastian's iconic performance of “City of Stars” projected on the movie theatre screen. It was impactful because as I was hearing the song for the first time, so was the main character, Mia, causing me to feel a greater connection to her as a character and a better understanding of the story overall.
Additionally, the lyrics in several of “La La Land”’s songs parallel the stories of the main characters. The upbeat opening number, “Another Day of Sun,” tells a story of an individual who is enchanted by the industry and decides to embark on a Hollywood journey. This mirrors Mia and Sebastian and their stories of trying to become successful artists in Los Angeles.
Although the Hollywood lifestyle is often shown as a life of fame and wealth, “Another Day of Sun” reveals the reality that Hollywood is defined by rejection and hardship. The singers exclaim, “and even when the answer’s ‘no’ or when my money’s running low, the dusty mic and neon glow, are all I need,” illustrating a battle between the difficulty of making it in the entertainment industry and the passion that drives an individual to endure that journey. These lyrics parallel Mia and Sebastian’s personal struggles and offer the audience more insight into their inner motivations.
Through music, Chazelle and composer Justin Hurwitz create a balance between history and innovation, giving us a nostalgic taste of the past while keeping the focus on the present. Chazelle explains that they accomplished this by creating a soundtrack that “sounded timeless. We weren’t trying to chase any recent fads with music. It will be dated in two days, ” (Meslow, 2016).
It was the calming cadence of the score that carried, projected and ultimately fostered a deep impression within me and many other “La La Land” viewers. The notes of the film are easy to let into your daily life after the fact through Spotify, Apple Music or simply the internet, causing the powerful posse of “La La Land” lovers to permeate well beyond the film’s release date. That’s why, five years later, we are still transported back into the film’s story, as well as the character’s emotions while listening to the songs that made the film.
Sources:
Perez, L. (2017, February 23). ‘La La Land Producer, Director Defend Ending as an Alternative to the Hollywood Fairy Tale. The Hollywood Reporter.
Walden, J. (2017, February 17). The A-List: The sound of La La Land. Post Perspective.
Meslow, S. (2016, December 16). How La La Land Got Its Unforgettable Music. GQ.