"Here's to the ones who Dream" La La Land Review

La La Land

5/5

Written and Directed by: Damien Chazelle

Rated: PG-13

           An original modern day cinematic musical; could it be done? It hadn't been done in over 50 years. Why make a new one? Director and writer Damien Chazelle states in a featurette, "I became interested in this idea of how do you use color and music and sets and costumes as expressionistic elements of old school movie making. How do you use those to tell an emotional story, but update it in a way that felt modern?" Here is his answer. La La Land is an original modern day cinematic musical, and it's extraordinary.
           From the first showstopper to the final curtain call, Chazelle's direction is admissible. One of his strong suits are his film's edits, and these were done by editor Tom Cross. The cuts in La La Land range from zero to innumerable. Unbroken takes felicitate the vibrato of La La Land's massive musical numbers, while rapid jumps keep the speed up in the jazz numbers. The pace of the film is a perfect fit, and it respects the film's cinematic exoticness. Though it features improbable visual aspects, La La Land's make believe world of lights and stars never detracts from the audience's viewing experience. Along with Chazelle's choice of vibrant colors and iconic set design, the film's aesthetics are exemplarily.
           Even though the nature of La La Land is fantastical, its characters are beyond real. Emma Stone's character, Mia, is brought to life with heart. Stone plays a barista in Hollywood, who longs for one successful audition to start her career as a silver screen actress. Accompanying Stone is Ryan Gosling as the charming prick, Sebastian. Gosling plays the role of a pianist who desires to have his own personalized jazz club. La La Land also features splendid performances by John Legend and Finn Wittrock. There's also a spot of high brow humor brought in an excellent scene with J.K. Simmons. La La Land's cast is outstanding, and its two leads, Gosling and Stone, gave all of their energy to give this film its magic.
           Gosling and Stone prepared tirelessly for their roles. According to IMDB.com Gosling "spent two hours a day, six days a week in piano lessons learning the music by heart...He was able to play all the piano sequences seen in the film." Gosling's instrumental playing is beautifully complimented by Stone's wonderful singing. Her voice ranges along a spectrum of innocent, catty, exuberant, agonized, desperate, and vulnerable. To top all of this off, their dancing is sharp and delightful. Each move is motivated and newly alive. Gosling and Stone's preparation paid off, because Mia and Sebastian's relationship is one audiences will embrace and adore for generations.
           What would Gosling and Stone's singing and dancing be, if they had no music? This is brought in by composer Justin Hurwitz. The music of La La Land soars above imagination and past the realm of thought. Hurwitz's pieces touch the heart and embrace life. His soundtrack alone tells Mia and Sebastian's story. Leitmotifs are the repetitious paragraphs. Chords display the mood. Themes illustrate the characters. Reprises unfold the changes in their relationship. A final medley recaptures their life. It is tremendous.
           La La Land's direction shines, its characters fascinate, and its music soars, but all of this could have fallen apart due to a lacking screenplay. If the lines were too light hearted or the lyrics simplistic, this film could have been written off as matinee fluff. Thank writer Chazelle and lyricists Benj Pasek and Justin Paul for their wonderful work, because La La Land's screenplay is remarkable. With a clever balance of bright humor and melancholic tenderness, the dialogue is memorable and impactful. There is humor, charm, and passion present in every frame. The lyrics are whimsical and unforeseeable. When a song seems predictable, it becomes newly captivating.
           La La Land's lyrics and script are, like the rest of the film, magnificent. It has been a long time since filmmakers dared to make movies like this, and even longer since there has been an uplifting film made with this refined quality. La La Land is a dreamer's love letter worth viewing with friends and family in theatres, or, if nothing else, seeing when it receives home release. Do not let this chance pass you by. Seize it with open arms. Let yourself be carried away to La La Land.

Verdict: La La Land is an original cinematic technicolor marvel of a musical, with admirable direction, spectacular performances by leads Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, and wonderful music.

"What law is there sayin' I got to like you?" Fences Review

Fences

4/5

Directed by: Denzel Washington

Written by: August Wilson

Rated: PG-13

           In 1983 renowned playwright August Wilson published his Pulitzer prize winning drama, Fences, a story of broken redemption about the life of a man who was father, brother, and son. Although several film studios wanted to make adaptations of it, no one knew how to take a story with one set, less than ten characters, with all of its action in the dialogue and make it into a compelling film. For years Fences was referred to as an "unfilmable" script. Denzel Washington heard none of that.

           If anyone could give justice to August Wilson's tragic and peerless script, it would be Denzel Washington. This is the third film he has directed. He also directed Antwone Fisher (2002) and The Great Debaters (2007). Denzel has already performed in Fences on Broadway in 2010, so he has a strong grasp of the beats and units within the story. His deliberate choices of when to go wide or when to go close up increase the intensity of scenes. He uses the positions of his characters to visually illustrate relationships, placing two friends further and further apart in frame until their friendship breaks. He even makes certain background elements stand out or take precedence in a shot, giving Fences its own iconic imagery. Since August Wilson's play could be done as an audio drama, it is incredible how Denzel gave this film visual impact beyond its dialogic impress.

           The main reason Fences was thought to be an "unfilmable" script is because a literal description of the play is people talk at a house. The beauty of Fences script is in its subtext. A simple scene about a son repaying a loan is about a father letting go of his hubris. Everything means something more than its surface. Often times the most crucial elements of the script are the words not said, such as "truth" "hate" and "love". In the script's darkest moments there is humor, which makes it humane. In life laughing and crying are never far apart from each other, and this script acknowledges this to the fullest. It never feels fake. Fences' script is a masterpiece in the hands of gifted talent, and this cast is gifted.

           What places this film's cast of characters above other films is their choice to not play characters. They are people; real people. Nothing is forced. There's no hesitation in anyone's performance. They are heartbreaking and heartfelt. The frontrunners are Denzel Washington as the arrogant Troy and Viola Davis as his faithful wife, Rose. Both received acting nominations in this year's Golden Globes, and why is a no brainer. These two are palpable on screen. Their relationship is a beautiful explosion. Though it wrenches the heart to watch the destruction, you can not help but stare in shock and wonder at the fire and what might survive its flames. Audiences will never forget what they witnessed, nor will they forget what they learned from this family. Fences has much to say. Listen.

Verdict: Fences is a heartbreaking and heartfelt film with iconic visuals, a masterpiece script, and an unforgettable cast of real people.