La La Land (2016)

Detailed Summary

Introduction: City of Stars

The film opens with an extravagant musical number on an LA freeway, “Another Day of Sun,” where aspiring performers sing and dance about the hope and frustration of pursuing their dreams in Hollywood. This sets the tone of the film, blending reality and fantasy, as well as introducing the key theme: the struggle to balance dreams and love.

Mia and Sebastian Meet

Mia (Emma Stone) is an aspiring actress working as a barista at a coffee shop on the Warner Bros. studio lot, while Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) is a passionate jazz pianist with dreams of opening his own jazz club. Their first encounter happens in a moment of frustration—Sebastian blows her off while playing piano at a bar, leading Mia to be unimpressed.

Fate brings them together multiple times, leading to their romantic relationship as both try to make it in their respective fields. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the movie dives into their relationship, showing the highs of falling in love and the complications that arise when ambition starts to pull them apart.

The Romance Blossoms

The film takes us through a montage of Mia and Sebastian’s growing romance, filled with vibrant colors, whimsical musical numbers like “A Lovely Night,” and moments of artistic inspiration. Sebastian helps Mia believe in her talent as an actress, encouraging her to write her own one-woman play, while Mia pushes Sebastian to pursue his dream of opening a jazz club.

Conflict: Success vs. Sacrifice

As their careers start to take off, their relationship is tested. Sebastian joins a successful jazz band led by his old friend Keith (John Legend), compromising his purist vision of jazz in favor of commercial success. This strains their relationship, as Mia feels he’s losing sight of his true passion, while Sebastian feels that Mia isn’t supportive of his practical steps toward success.

Mia, after experiencing a series of acting rejections, finally gets an opportunity to audition for a major role in Paris. However, by this point, her relationship with Sebastian has crumbled, leading to heartbreak and a confrontation about the difficult choice between love and career.

Movie Ending

The film’s final act is set five years later. Mia is now a successful actress, married to someone else, with a child. One night, she and her husband stumble into a jazz club—Sebastian’s jazz club, which he finally opened. As Sebastian takes the stage, he and Mia exchange a brief but emotional glance.

The movie then offers a stunning, dream-like sequence, reimagining an alternate version of their lives had they chosen each other over their careers. It’s a magical “what-if” moment, set to the beautiful “Epilogue” score, where Mia and Sebastian share a perfect life together—had things gone differently. However, reality returns, and the film ends with a bittersweet smile between the two, acknowledging the love they had but also the separate paths they chose.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

There is no post-credits scene in La La Land.

Type of Movie

La La Land is a romantic musical drama that blends elements of fantasy with grounded emotional storytelling. It pays homage to the classic musicals of Hollywood’s Golden Age, with a modern twist.

Cast

• Emma Stone as Mia Dolan
• Ryan Gosling as Sebastian Wilder
• John Legend as Keith
• Rosemarie DeWitt as Laura Wilder
• J.K. Simmons as Bill
• Finn Wittrock as Greg

Film Music and Composer

The film’s music was composed by Justin Hurwitz, with lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The soundtrack, including songs like “City of Stars” and “Audition (The Fools Who Dream),” plays a pivotal role in the storytelling, blending jazz influences with Broadway-style numbers.

Hurwitz won the Oscar for Best Original Score and Best Original Song (“City of Stars”) at the 89th Academy Awards.

Filming Locations

The movie was shot across various iconic locations in Los Angeles, including:

• Griffith Observatory: Featured in a dreamy dance sequence, the observatory is symbolic of LA’s connection to the stars, both literal and metaphorical.
• Angels Flight: The funicular railway becomes the backdrop for a romantic moment between Mia and Sebastian.
• Warner Bros. Studio: The coffee shop where Mia works and the auditions she goes to bring real Hollywood into the mix.

These locations are important because they root the film in the actual landscape of Los Angeles, contrasting its fantasy elements with the gritty reality of trying to make it in Hollywood.

Awards and Nominations

La La Land was a major player during the 2017 awards season, winning 6 Academy Awards and being nominated for 14, tying the record for the most Oscar nominations.

• Oscar Wins:
• Best Director (Damien Chazelle)
• Best Actress (Emma Stone)
• Best Original Score (Justin Hurwitz)
• Best Original Song (“City of Stars”)
• Best Cinematography
• Best Production Design

It also won several Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Critics’ Choice Awards.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Damien Chazelle originally wrote the script for La La Land in 2010, but studios were hesitant due to the lack of well-known stars and the musical genre.
• Gosling learned how to play the piano for the role, practicing for two hours a day for several months.
• The opening freeway musical number took two days to film and involved over 100 dancers and extras.
• Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling had previously worked together in Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011), which helped their on-screen chemistry.

Inspirations and References

La La Land is heavily inspired by classic Hollywood musicals like:

• Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
• The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)
• An American in Paris (1951)

Chazelle also drew from his personal experiences as an aspiring filmmaker, exploring the tension between ambition and relationships.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There is no official alternate ending, but the final dream sequence serves as a sort of “alternate ending,” presenting an idealized version of Mia and Sebastian’s lives together. This artistic choice allowed the film to maintain its bittersweet tone without requiring multiple cuts.

Book Adaptations and Differences

La La Land is not based on a book, but its structure and style are heavily influenced by traditional musicals and the French New Wave. Its blend of reality and fantasy gives it a literary quality that feels like it could have been adapted from a novel.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• The “Planetarium Dance” at Griffith Observatory, where Mia and Sebastian float into a fantasy world.
• Mia’s heartbreaking solo during “Audition (The Fools Who Dream),” encapsulating the emotional toll of chasing impossible dreams.
• The final “Epilogue” sequence, where an idealized version of Mia and Sebastian’s life plays out.

Iconic Quotes

• Mia: “Here’s to the ones who dream, foolish as they may seem.”
• Sebastian: “That’s LA. They worship everything and value nothing.”
• Sebastian: “I’m letting life hit me until it gets tired. Then I’ll hit back. It’s a classic rope-a-dope.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The colors of Mia’s dresses throughout the film reflect her journey—starting with bright, hopeful shades, and transitioning to darker, more muted tones as her relationship with Sebastian deteriorates.
• The final dream sequence nods to classic musicals with its set designs, from An American in Paris to The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.
• The movie’s title font is reminiscent of 1950s CinemaScope, a subtle homage to the golden age of Hollywood musicals.

Trivia

• Damien Chazelle became the youngest person to ever win the Oscar for Best Director at age 32.
• The film was mistakenly announced as Best Picture at the Oscars before the error was corrected, and the award went to Moonlight (2016).
• Emma Watson and Miles Teller were originally considered for the roles of Mia and Sebastian.

Why Watch?

La La Land is a must-watch for lovers of musicals, romance, and visually stunning cinema. It’s a deeply emotional film that blends nostalgia for classic Hollywood with a modern twist, offering a unique perspective on the sacrifices that come with chasing your dreams.

Director’s Other Movies

• Whiplash (2014)
• First Man (2018)
• Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench (2009)

Recommended Films for Fans

• The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)
• An American in Paris (1951)
• Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
• Whiplash (2014)
• Once (2007)