La La Land (film)

La La Land (film)
source
Name	La La Land
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Damien Chazelle
Producer	Fred Berger, Jordan Horowitz, Marc Platt
Writer	Damien Chazelle
Starring	Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone
Music	Justin Hurwitz
Cinematography	Linus Sandgren
Editing	Tom Cross
Studio	Summit Entertainment, Lionsgate, Black Label Media
Distributor	Lionsgate
Released	2016
Runtime	128 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$30 million
Gross	$446 million

La La Land (film) is a 2016 American romantic musical film written and directed by Damien Chazelle. Starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, the film follows the intertwined careers and relationship of a jazz musician and an aspiring actress navigating Los Angeles. The film blends classical Hollywood musical aesthetics with contemporary filmmaking techniques and received widespread critical and commercial acclaim.

Plot

The narrative follows Mia Dolan and Sebastian Wilder as they pursue careers in Los Angeles, with scenes set in locations such as the Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Bowl, Angeles National Forest, and a montage referencing the Mulholland Drive corridor. Mia, an aspiring actress working at a Warner Bros. Studios-adjacent coffee shop, attends numerous auditions and experiences setbacks tied to casting directors and repertory companies. Sebastian, a jazz pianist inspired by figures like Charlie Parker and the legacy of Thelonious Monk, struggles with club bookings and tensions between preserving orthodox jazz traditions and commercial opportunities offered by restaurateurs and promoters. Their relationship progresses through musical numbers staged on sets evoking Singin' in the Rain and An American in Paris, culminating in a split as career trajectories diverge: Mia tours regional theatres and auditions for film roles, while Sebastian joins a pop-oriented ensemble led by a nightclub owner, performing at venues reminiscent of the Viper Room and The Biltmore Hotel. The film concludes with an epilogue imagining an alternate life for the pair, intercut with scenes from their real-world outcomes at a jazz club.

Cast

The principal cast includes Ryan Gosling as Sebastian Wilder and Emma Stone as Mia Dolan, supported by J. K. Simmons, Rosemarie DeWitt, Finn Wittrock, John Legend, and Tom Everett Scott. Gosling's portrayal draws comparisons to performers featured in retrospectives at institutions like the Museum of Modern Art (New York City) and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Stone's performance received attention from critics at festivals such as the Venice Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival, with references to ensembles from the Royal Shakespeare Company and casting practices at American Conservatory Theater. Supporting players include members with credits on productions connected to Broadway houses and regional companies like the Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

Production

Development began after Chazelle's success with Whiplash (film), with producers Fred Berger, Jordan Horowitz, and Marc Platt assembling financing from Summit Entertainment and Black Label Media. Pre-production involved choreography consultations referencing work by Gene Kelly, Bob Fosse, and Jerome Robbins, and cinematography tests led by Linus Sandgren using long takes inspired by sequences in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and All That Jazz (film). Principal photography took place primarily in Los Angeles under permits from the Los Angeles Film Office, with soundstage work at facilities affiliated with Sony Pictures Studios and on-location shoots on Lankershim Boulevard, the 3rd Street Tunnel, and the LAX vicinity. Costume design reflected influences from wardrobes conserved at the Costume Institute and period pieces in the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Editing by Tom Cross prioritized rhythmic montages syncing with Justin Hurwitz's compositions, while production design evoked backlots associated with Paramount Pictures and studio-era mise-en-scène.

Music

The score and songs were composed by Justin Hurwitz, with lyricists and collaborators drawing on traditions from Cole Porter, George Gershwin, and Henry Mancini. Key numbers include the opening ensemble on a freeway ramp, an audition ballad, and a jazz club centerpiece. Recording sessions occurred at studios used by producers linked to Universal Music Group affiliates, employing jazz musicians versed in repertoires associated with the Blue Note Records catalogue. The soundtrack album charted internationally, reflecting popularity in markets noted by the Billboard 200, the UK Albums Chart, and the ARIA Charts.

Release and reception

Launched at festivals and markets including the Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, and the AFI Fest, the film opened widely through Lionsgate distribution. It grossed over $440 million worldwide against a modest budget, achieving box office milestones familiar from other crossover musicals like Chicago (2002 film) and Moulin Rouge! (2001 film). Critical response aggregated on platforms such as Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic praised the direction, performances, cinematography, and score, while some commentators compared its homage to classical musicals and noted debates in outlets such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and Variety concerning authenticity in jazz depiction and representation. Audience reception included enthusiastic responses at venues like the Dolby Theatre and revival screenings at repertory houses.

Accolades

The film received numerous awards, including multiple honors at the Academy Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, the BAFTA Awards, and the Critics' Choice Awards. Recognitions spanned Best Director, Best Actress, Best Original Score, and Best Original Song categories, joining a lineage of award-winning musicals such as West Side Story (1961 film) and The Sound of Music. Winning seasons at guild ceremonies included acknowledgments from the Directors Guild of America, the Writers Guild of America, and the Screen Actors Guild.

Legacy and influence

The film influenced subsequent projects in Hollywood and international cinema, prompting renewed interest in studio-backed musicals, revivals at repertory cinemas including the Film Forum (New York City) and the BFI Southbank, and scholarly discussion in journals affiliated with Columbia University, UCLA, and the British Film Institute. It spurred cultural conversations in media such as The Atlantic and Slate about nostalgia, urban space representation, and the economics of genre filmmaking, and inspired stage adaptations, concert presentations at venues like the Royal Albert Hall, and pedagogical case studies in curricula at institutions such as the American Film Institute and the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

Category:2016 films