LOS ANGELES -- La La Land,DMCA starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, just made its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, where most critics fell head-over-heels for the film.
La La Landserves as writer-director Damien Chazelle's follow-up to his critically acclaimed and Oscar-nominated drama Whiplash, and apparently serves as proof that he's no one-hit wonder. It's also a major piece of the 2017 Oscars puzzle -- how could a throwback musical, set in the heart of the Hollywood dream factory, not be?
Mashablewill have its own review of La La Landwhen it screens at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 12. The musical has major awards hopes and the trailer looks absolutely gorgeous, but it doesn't suggest much conflict within the love story.
Let's see what the critics have to say about that ...
SEE ALSO: Emma Stone sings a tune of longing in new 'La La Land' trailerPeter Bradshaw, The Guardian
"An unapologetically romantic homage to classic movie musicals, splashing its poster-paint energy and dream-chasing optimism on the screen. "La La Landis such a happy, sweet-natured movie – something to give you a vitamin-D boost of sunshine.”
Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter
“Not perfect, but dazzling and distinctive all the same,” says the veteran trade critic. “If you’re going to fall hard for Damien Chazelle’s daring and beautiful La La Land, it will probably be at first sight. There’s never been anything quite like the opening sequence.”
SEE ALSO: Ryan Gosling sings a song of love in 'La La Land' trailerEric Kohn, Indiewire
Kohn gives the film a 'B,' calling it "an ode to classic musicals that captures their fun, if not their greatness.” He continues, "La La Landsucceeds in making its sweet imagery sing, particularly with the sensational finale. In a wordless explosion of lights and shadows, Chazelle reignites the movie with fresh context that forces it to get real."
Owen Gleiberman, Variety
The “most audacious big-screen musical in a long time.” The film “isn’t a masterpiece (and on some level it wants to be). Yet it’s an elating ramble of a movie, ardent and full of feeling, passionate but also exquisitely controlled. It winds up swimming in melancholy, yet its most convincing pleasures are the moments when it lifts the audience into a state of old-movie exaltation, leading us to think, ‘What a glorious feeling. I’m happy again.’”
Alonso Duralde, TheWrap
“The musical is as malleable and eclectic a genre as any other, and Chazelle reminds us how effectively it can be applied to intimate moments as well as huge ones. ... Gosling and Stone’s powerful chemistry is as palpable as it was in Crazy Stupid Love— they were that film’s sole selling point — and each of them conveys their character’s love of the arts and drive to succeed.”
Jessica Kiang of The Playlist
"A primary colored explosion of pure delight that revels in both the manufactured perfections of studio-era Hollywood musicals and in the imperfections and flubbed lines of real life, and finds eternally charming, often spectacular ways to occupy the largely unmapped territory between the two, the film is a huge risk and an absolute triumph. But it also manages to be intimate, to feel like a secret whispered into your ear, and yours alone."
Pete Hammond, Deadline
The Oscar oracle calls the film “a gorgeous romantic fever dream of a musical that should hit contemporary audiences right in their sweet spot.” Hammond adds that "this is a movie worth savoring, something that entertains, enlightens and makes us feel good about being alive.”
I think we get the picture at this point. The movie is very good, wholly unique, and features two movie stars doing what movie stars do best. It sounds like we have a real contender on our hands.
Mark your calendars for Dec. 7.
Previous：The Long View in Granada
Next：Malign Intervention
Mark Lilla’s Comfort Zone
Naomi Osaka honors Breonna Taylor during US Open match
Let's all start preparing emotionally for President Kid Rock
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sign major deal with Netflix
The Ovid of Loserdom
These dogs have been DNA tested. Can you guess the breed?
This very polite pigeon is the London Underground hero we all need
Fall movie preview: Mulan, Dune, Candyman, and 12 more
It Is Happening Again
Forgotten Twitter feature shows off the embarrassing topics you follow
Best Dyson deal: Get the Dyson Airstrait Straightener for its lowest price yet
A tired journalist's response to Trump Jr.'s emails has spawned a great meme
What is an algorithm?
Batman (and the Riddler) can now give you directions in Waze
What Comes After Resistance?
Hugh Grant defines a popular British insult with the help of Donald Trump Jr.
Samsung's new laser projector puts a massive 4K picture on your wall
U.S. Census ends soon. Here's how to respond and why it's important.
Panic in Textopolis
Turns out, dogs are really spooked by those face masks you love so much
Beyoncé's holiday decorations include a 'Lemonade'Facebook rolls out another method to make you watch Live videosThundersnow with 'continuous' lightning hit Hawaii on SundayJerry Lewis has no time for this interview about how old he is'Pokémon Go' players have walked around the earth more than 200,000 timesRussian deepWe have a good feeling about this Death Star gingerbread houseInstagram Stories: Now even more like Snapchat, but with better video recordingMeet the hardware hackers rebelling against Samsung18 soup pairings for your social anxietiesIndia surpasses Britain to become world's fifth largest economyHilarious Instagram devoted to chubby babies is a mustMargot Robbie posts the most perfect response to wedding rumours everThis virtual fireplace full of burning Samsung Galaxy Note7s will keep you warmWatch this NHL star choke up after seeing his young son celebrate his crucial goalA startup will give you free birth control with the code 'Donald Trump'How Karun Nair cheated death and went on to score a triple tonPeople in Iceland are being left off the weather map and they're pissedFacebook now lets you send festive cards...to yourselfLeaked documents show Facebook's guidelines on hate speech are a muddled mess Game of Thrones' star Sophie Turner tweets a powerful thread about mental illness #RecastTChalla campaign is not what you think it is Corsair's new monitor can bend on demand 20 TikTok accounts that will fill the void Vine left in your heart Pakistan floods: Here's how you can help. Trump spelled 'forest' wrong and everyone made the same joke TikTok videos show heartwarming support for California's farmworkers Yumi baby food subscription aims to disrupt a parenting industry 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Season 3 review: Not just for Trekkies Stormy Daniels offers a fun alternative to Trump's national address Anderson Cooper asked Alexandria Ocasio Trump’s fast food spread at the White House has the internet talking Macaulay Culkin expertly trolls his little brother on Twitter during the Golden Globes Trump defends his choice to serve the Clemson football team '1000 hamberders' Netflix's 'Seoul Vibe' review: Fast, furious, and fun '80s action Ted Cruz's weird beard briefly distracted us all from Trump's border stunt Wordle today: Here's the August 30 Wordle answer and hints Moose casually wanders into hospital on a snack run Trump's Truth Social app has not been approved by Google's Play store yet 10 best '80s sitcoms on Amazon Prime Video for a trip back in time