La La Land and Whiplash are two masterpieces of one of the youngest directors working in Hollywood today - Damien Chazelle. Both movies were incredibly successful with critics and audiences alike, winning multiple awards and being named as some of the best of the 21st century.
Precisely because of their success, so many fans tend to compare the two movies while trying to understand which of the two is better and can be considered Chazelle's greatest work so far. Though it's obviously difficult to determine which of the two is superior, there are still some aspects that could be compared.
La La Land: The Costume And Set Design Is Gorgeous
La La Land is one of those movies that looks absolutely stunning. One of the elements that make this movie look so good is its costume and set design, which is absolutely gorgeous.
From the opening dance scene to the last shots, where Sebastian and Mia give each other one last glance, the movie never fails to look captivating by using color and design.
Whiplash: The Conflict Has Higher Stakes
When comparing the two, it's easy to see that La La Land is more lighthearted than Whiplash, although both movies are equally thoughtful with their subject matter. But what does stand out, even more, is that the conflict has higher stakes in Whiplash. This is probably the result of the movie being more intense than La La Land.
La La Land: The Atmosphere Is Undeniably Pleasing
On the other hand, it's worth noting that the atmosphere in La La Land is undeniably pleasing and the movie is incredibly enjoyable to watch.
La La Land is the kind of movie that has a bittersweet ending. Most of the time, it is easy to watch because it is so affectionate with its characters. But then it doesn't stray away from showing just how hard life and relationships can be.
Whiplash: The Supporting Actor Does An Outstanding Job
Whiplash is often celebrated for J.K. Simmons' performance, who got nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and BAFTAs winning all three.
Simmons actually first starred in the short of the same name that Damien Chazelle directed to find funding for the feature. He fit the role perfectly, so it's no surprise that he went on to star in the feature-length version.
La La Land: The Leading Duo Is Too Good To Ignore
Though Simmons' acting is great in Whiplash, it's undeniable that the leading duo in La La Land is too good to ignore. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone have amazing chemistry on-screen and are very believable in their roles.
In fact, they both received nominations for their performances at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and BAFTAs, with Stone winning all three and Gosling winning the Golden Globe.
Whiplash: The Audience Can Relate To The Intensity And Pressures Andrew Experiences
As mentioned earlier, Whiplash is a lot more intense than La La Land. It keeps the stakes consistently high, but there is another element to it that contributes to the movie's unending tension.
The pressure that the main character Andrew is under keeps the viewers on the edges of their seats. Even though he can be flawed at times, there are moments where the audience can easily empathize and relate to him, which makes the story all the more complex and powerful.
La La Land: The Dance Sequences Are Beautifully Choreographed
Though it's not a dance movie per se, La La Land features multiple dance numbers and is centered on two creative people working in the entertainment industry.
It's no wonder that La La Land was praised as one of the best musicals of the recent decades because it has so many beautifully choreographed and impressive dance sequences.
Whiplash: The Concept Is More Original
Whiplash and La La Land are both unique in their own ways, but at closer inspection, it feels like Whiplash has a slightly more original concept than La La Land does.
There are many stories about aspiring artists trying to break through into the industry, but there are not that many movies that explore a young artist's complicated relationship with his demanding and abusive teacher.
La La Land: The Soundtrack Is Definitely One Of The Best Ever
Composed by Chazelle's regular collaborator Justin Hurwitz, La La Land's soundtrack stands out a lot. Moreover, it's not just a great soundtrack - is probably one of the best ever.
Every song is exactly in its place and performed excellently by the cast. At the same time, all the musical pieces and melodies create a special kind of atmosphere and make the scenes emotional when they should be.
Whiplash: The Overall Story
The themes of a particular movie can help elevate the story and make it more multi-layered and interesting for the audience to analyze. But even though La La Land has some interesting themes (nostalgia and identity, for example), Whiplash just edges a bit further in this regard.
The main theme of Whiplash is "the price of greatness." One can be really talented and skilled in their area of expertise. However, not everyone realizes how difficult it can be to break into the industry or the pressures and sacrifices that come with it. When Andrew discovers this for himself, the viewers are then compelled to stay in their seats because they want to know if he will succeed despite the odds being stacked against him.