Must-watch romantic movie of the year: 【La La Land】 – Unbeatable Romance

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team
 
Directed by Damien Chazelle, the filmmaker behind *Whiplash*, and starring Venice Film Festival Best Actress Emma Stone and Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling, the musical romance film 【La LaLand】(La La Land) was released simultaneously in Taiwan and the U.S. on December 9.

【La LaLand】follows the story of struggling jazz pianist Sebastian (played by Ryan Gosling) and aspiring actress Mia (played by Emma Stone), who meet, connect, fall in love, and support each other as they pursue their dreams in the full-of-possibilities city of Los Angeles. However, as they inch closer to success, the pressures of reality begin to wear down their once-beautiful romance, putting their relationship to the ultimate test...

【La LaLand】features stellar casting, with the director praising: “Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are destined to be classic.” The golden couple’s pairing adds visual beauty to the screen, and both their singing and dancing skills have received high praise. Emma once mentioned in a TV interview that she works with Ryan so often that this time, after months of song-and-dance training, she found herself having to stare at his face every day—it made her want to talk to someone after filming. But the only upside of working with Ryan, she joked, is that she doesn’t feel awkward even when drenched in sweat because they’re so familiar. She laughed: ‘Dancing the tango with a stranger would be a disaster, but since it’s Ryan, sweating buckets is totally fine.’

The film not only earned high scores of 8.6 on IMDb and 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, receiving widespread international acclaim, but also received zero negative reviews during its Taiwan preview screenings. Directors Lin Hsiao-chien, Hsieh Ting-han, Yi Chih-yen, and Hou Chi-jan all spoke highly of it with deep emotion, while critics Lan Tzu-wei and Knee-Jerk Reaction called it the most outstanding romantic movie of the year. Director Damien Chazelle also spoke effusively about the extraordinary chemistry between Emma and Ryan: ‘They’re always joking around, but they’re incredibly focused and motivating each other at work. They’re each other’s strongest support and the best on- and off-screen duo—this pair is destined to become a classic.’

The film 【La LaLand】weaves a melody of love and dreams through music and dance, perfectly inheriting the essence of cinematic classics while radiating modern vitality. The director’s homage to the classics and the joyous musical sequences completely captivate the audience. Critic Lan Tzu-wei remarked: ‘This film offers an unforgettable experience by reviving the pinnacle of artistic creation from Hollywood and the golden age of French cinema.’