La La Land – Sunday 17th August 2025

I remember when ‘La La Land’ first came out, and how all the critics were raving about it. I went to see it, and I can’t say I loved it, but it definitely hit the spot. It was the ending that really got to me.

Since then, I’ve grown to appreciate the movie in a more round about way. It has ambition; it’s not afraid to mix fantasy and surrealist elements with ‘reality’ and there’s a boldness to the musical numbers. Yeah, I like it.

What really spoke to me, was that you could be with the ‘right’ person, go through thick and thin, and still not end up together. Such is life, and it’s never really discussed or acknowledged, in movies anyway (‘The Way We Were’ is a notable Hollywood exception).

Both leads are likeable, the songs are decent, but the costume and production design really stand out.
The film doesn’t have a traditional happy ending, and is the all better for it; the characters still find their happiness, but that dream sequence at the end really makes you wonder, ‘what if…’

It’s a good film!
Let’s raise a glass to the one that got away.