By Justin Busby
The 74th annual Golden Globes were held on Jan. 8 showcasing the best actors, directors, shows and films to have entertained and dazzled us during the rather dreary year of 2016. But at least it ended on a high note that is “La La Land,” a dramatic, romance musical from the mind of Damien Chazzelle, the director and screenwriter for one of 2014’s best films, “Whiplash.”
Mia (Emma Stone) is an aspiring actress, working as a barista on a Hollywood production lot, serving cappuccinos to people she would rather call her co-stars than customers. Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) is a jazz purist with dreams of owning his own jazz lounge and bar in Los Angeles.
The duo sing and dance their way from the streets of downtown Los Angeles to the stars above the Griffith Observatory and finally into our hearts as they pursue their dreams and blossom a relationship well worth the Golden Globe they each received.
In total, the movie received seven Golden Globes – breaking the record of six held by “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975) and “Midnight Express” (1978) – sweeping the musical/comedy category with best actor, best actress, and best film.
Chazzelle also claimed best director as well as best screenplay overall. Justin Hurwitz’s musical talents earned him the globes for best song and soundtrack, but maybe most importantly, creating a theme as iconic as Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On”.
Don’t be turned off from this movie at the thought of a musical, but embrace the chemistry of Gosling and Stone in one of the most charmingly relevant stories of the year.
