The latest cinematic masterpiece, “La La Land,” hits all the important qualities of an instant classic: it has received a number of awards, featured an incredible score and a captivating plot, and left a significant impact on its audience. After opening on Dec. 9, 2016 and slowly releasing across the country, the film has already grossed an estimated $132 million worldwide. The movie also notably made history with a record of seven total Golden Globes at the ceremony in early January. However, “La La Land” is more than just numbers and figures; the jaw-droppingly gorgeous movie had lots to offer in the storytelling and music departments as well.

The musical follows the lives of a struggling actress, Mia (Emma Stone,) and a talented pianist and jazz enthusiast, Sebastian (Ryan Gosling). After not one, not two, but three different meet-cute scenes, the pair finally gets to talking and begin their (albeit tumultuous) romance as they both strive to “make it big” and fulfill their dreams of becoming a successful actress (Mia) and opening his own jazz club (Sebastian). Every moment along the way is beautifully mirrored by the truly amazing soundtrack; for example, the opening go-getter song, a “Another Day In The Sun” sets an overall hopeful tone for the rest of the movie. The playful duet, “A Lovely Night,” bemoans the beautiful L.A. skyline being wasted on the duo who insist they do not have feelings for each other, whereas the slightly more serious “City of Stars” captures the hopeful yet realistic side to the protagonists’ lofty ambitions. The haunting track of “Mia & Sebastian’s Theme,” which is repeated throughout the film, and the nostalgic final mashup of all the songs in “Epilogue” beautifully emphasize some of the movie’s more emotional and heartfelt moments. Stone and Gosling perform all these songs themselves, as well as complicated, dazzling dance numbers to bring a visually entertaining counterpart to the enchanting audio. To add to its visual charm, “La La Land” was packed with historic Los Angeles sites, such as the Griffith Observatory, Rialto Theater, the Angels Flight Railroad, and the Hermosa Pier. A clear creative masterpiece, “La La Land” also had a significant impact on its viewers, which makes it extremely memorable.

“‘La La Land’ is a beautifully composed romance that enforces the idea that dreams can come true,” junior and “La La Land” fan Parker Jewell said. “Although it works with actresses and actors with no experience with singing and dancing, it is still a musical that can hold its own.”

“La La Land” meets all the requirements of a truly fantastic movie. Its compelling story and characters draw the audience in, while the fantastic soundtrack artfully add that extra “something special.” Audiences near and far have fallen head over heels in love with the film, and it has lived up to its fame with sky-high box office sales and record Golden Globe wins. The newest instant classic has made its mark on cinematic memory, and it is sure to take its place among some of the best films ever made.

Image courtesy of Flickr.com