La La Land Review

Certificate: 12A

Running time: 128 minutes

Directed by: Damien Chazelle.

What's it about:  Following the lives of an aspiring actress and jazz musician, as they fall in love and try to make their dreams come true.

The verdict: La La Land is one of those films that has captivated both cinema goers and critics alike, and so I approached it with some caution - I didn't want to be disappointed. And I wasn't.

From the brilliant opening number to the wonderful use of lighting, La La Land is an absolute joy to watch. The day scenes are bright and vibrant, and the night scenes are lit by beautiful moonlight and soft street lamps. This gives the film a great overall look.

The locations used are iconic enough to give the film an identity, but they don't overpower the characters or the story. This film is all about the characters, and is really well written. I was rooting for both main characters - Sebastian played by Ryan Gosling and Mia played by Emma Stone. You're definitely invested in their journey, and you want them to succeed. You can tell Gosling and Stone have worked together previously - they have great chemistry. 

The music is also brilliant. Some people have criticised the actors singing, but I feel this is completely missing the point of the film. Yes it's a musical but it's not about Sebastian and Mia being professional singers. It's about emotion being expressed through the medium of music. 

One of the best things about watching La La Land was feeling like it was timeless. It was definitely an ode to old school Hollywood, it gave the feeling of being utterly embraced in the cinema and felt like an experience rather than just watching a film. 

The only negative I had was the ending. However this was very much a personal choice, and was certainly not due to bad writing or acting. The ending can have different meanings taken from it, and it's very much up to the audience to decide whether they fall into one camp or the other - no spoilers, you'll understand when you see it!

Overall I loved it. I felt myself smiling throughout, I laughed out loud and the atmosphere in the cinema was light and happy. 

Should you watch this film? Yes, yes, yes! Leave your scepticism at the door and embrace this ageless musical. It's definitely headed for The Oscars!