See what the critics are saying in front ofLa La Lands Dec. 16 theatrical bow in the excerpts below.
Chris Nashawaty (EW)
There have been a handful of lavish, big-studio musicals in recent years.
But for the most part, theyve been bloated Broadway adaptations full of sound and fury.
Credit: Dale Robinette
And some moviegoers may, no doubt, feel a little tentative about the genre.
ButLa La Landis the anti-whatever those are.
Its more intimate and personal and affecting…more magical.
Dale Robinette
My advice is to seeLa La Landand surrender to it.
It will make you feel like youre walking on air too.
You, no matter what your sexual preference.
You, no matter how cold and bitter your heart.
But ifLa La Landwas only its first two thirds, thats all it would be.
It is his and Mias song.
Where is this going?
Can this guy pull it off?
Are these kids going to make it?
By the end, those questions vanish under a spell of enchantment.
Eventually,La Las light-footed glee will trip over its baggage.
Youre forever getting kicked out of the moment and asked to applaud… Of course, fantasies sell musicals.
Here, the dream world reigns supreme.
As Sebastian sighs, Thats L.A.
They worship everything and they value nothing.
Maybe Chazelle fits in after all.
In one scene, Sebastian plays a record of a jazz pianist while sitting next to his own piano.
He listens to a phrase, stops the record, and reproduces it.
Then he does it all again.
Hes slavishly imitating but for the sake of getting inside the head of an artist he loves.
Stone is simply a joy as the eternally aspiring actress its hard to believe is being passed over.
Thats LA, Sebastian concludes.
They worship everything and they value nothing.
But that doesnt stop him from getting fired up about the underlying power of classic jazz.
You cant hear it, he implores Mia.
To that end,La La Landsucceeds in making its sweet imagery sing, particularly with the sensational finale.
Here, he arrives at the wrenching conclusion that even the most vibrant fantasy eventually must fade to black.
