#2- La La Land

“La La Land” is a masterpiece and there’s no getting around it. This modern musical captures two doting love birds, played by Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, as they attempt to accomplish their dreams in the city of angels. Gosling and Stone’s chemistry is note-perfect, capped off by one of the year’s best screenplays from writer/director, Damien Chazelle. His direction is also flawless, perfectly blending the choreographed dance numbers with everyday realism. Stone gives the best performance of her career as Mia, an out of work actress who continues to audition despite her continuous failure. She will certainly contend for an Academy Award come February. Thanks incredible performances, meticulous direction, vibrant use of color, and a soon-to-be classic musical score from Justin Hurwitz, “La La Land” soars.