By After hitting it big with Whiplash, many wondered what writer/director Damien Chazelle would do for a followup. We got a taste of that yesterday with the first trailer for La La Land, a movie musical starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.
Give the trailer a watch below, and listen to the song “City of Stars.”
That Gosling fellow has a dreamy voice, and my if that Stone gal isn’t a classy leading lady. Here’s a synopsis for La La Land:
Written and directed by Academy Award® nominee Damien Chazelle, LA LA LAND tells the story of Mia [Emma Stone], an aspiring actress, and Sebastian [Ryan Gosling], a dedicated jazz musician, who are struggling to make ends meet in a city known for crushing hopes and breaking hearts. Set in modern day Los Angeles, this original musical about everyday life explores the joy and pain of pursuing your dreams.
Something about the mournful music, imagery, and color scheme reminds me of Paul Thomas Anderson’s work about 15 years ago, particularly Punch-Drunk Love–there’s even a hint of Jon Brion in “City of Stars”–but maybe married to Francis Ford Coppola’s 1982 musical One From the Heart.
I’m looking forward to La La Land, which will be out on December 16th. Check out some teaser artwork for the film in the gallery.
[via The Playlist]