Land of hope and glory
FILM REVIEW: La La Land is the top Oscar contender
La La Land is a must-see
As we enter Trumpland, the American elite who select and crown the Oscars seem to have embraced diversity – and to leave audiences with feel-good applause for a movie that breaks all barriers but is, in the end, a musical-comedy with bitter edges. And yet La La Land (that niche where we all feel safely at home with our books and kittens) took so long to make that its brilliance (14 Oscar nominations) can easily be overwhelmed by what is in truth a truly escapist ending in which traditional romance is blatantly just another dreamscape for the ascendant stars – singer Mia (Emma Stone) and pianist Sebastian (Ryan Gosling). They succeed — but the film’s intricacy keeps its focus on a simple theme: if you struggle heroically, then become famous (or simply known) that, too, can break your heart. This places full responsibility on Mia and Seb (as she calls him). Yet this cannot be termed a true narrative: it’s too simple, and musical numbers burst forth wherever they may be in Los Angeles ...
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