Some of the most iconic moments in cinema history come from musicals. Whether it be West Side Story, Singin’ in the Rain or even Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, the genre is renowned for its ability to wrap up an audience in elaborate song and dance numbers. And while musicals come few and far between these days, there’s always a few that manage to find the spotlight. That couldn’t be more true for Damian Chizelle’s upcoming film, La La Land. Starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, the musical follows a jazz singer and an aspiring actress during their time in Los Angeles.
Ever since La La Land won the coveted People’s Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival earlier this year, the critical buzz has skyrocketed. The last few months have featured a wealth of trailers, TV spots and featurettes that showcase the film’s classic Hollywood style. We’ve seen some of its stunning visuals and, of course, great musical sequences with Gosling and Stone. The film will surely be a top contender for various Academy Awards and other big accolades as the year draws to a close. But just to sweeten the pot a little more, we’ve been given a new look into La La Land’s music.
Lionsgate has released a short featurette that highlights the film’s song and dance numbers. Gosling, Stone and Chizelle also discuss their personal experiences in making La La Land, giving us nice inside looks into how the most iconic sequences were constructed. Take a look above.
This video only reaffirms how splendid La La Land will be. It shows how much passion the film’s cast and crew had to bring this gorgeous musical to life. Gosling revealed he worked for many hours a day to get his songs down pat, and that’s not even including the time he dedicated to learning the complicated dance moves. He no doubt shared those challenges with his Crazy, Stupid, Love co-star, Emma Stone, who had to do many of the same maneuvers — but in heels.
And luckily, backing them up is a director who proved himself to be a musically-gifted filmmaker with his 2014 jazz drama, Whiplash. So, La La Land is really in the best possible hands. They all seem very aware of what makes a musical memorable, and how to best execute it. That’s very important because something as special as this film demands that high level of commitment and devotion.
Above all, La La Land is yet another example of Chizelle’s phenomenal talent. His films generate fantastic performances, a contagious rhythm that you can’t help get sucked into, and so much more. He’s one of the most promising up and comers in Hollywood today, and hopefully he will continue to thrive in the coming years.
Source: Lionsgate
