Oh what a lovely night it was when La La Land first premiered ten whole years ago. Time flies when you’re busy flying through the Griffith Observatory.
One of my favourite films ever, I’m delighted that Cineworld is bringing it back to the big screen for its 10th Anniversary, with tickets costing just £5.99 each to see Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling fall in love and then fall apart just as easily. My heart hurts just thinking about it.
Get ready for these extra special screenings taking place from 28th August, and check out my choice of the best scenes from La La Land.
The colourful “Another Day of Sun” opening sequence
Traffic in LA? Surely not. And that’s where La La Land begins, bumper-to-bumper traffic, the whole cast builds to a crescendo in “Another Day of Sun” as drivers exit their cars to sing and dance. Everyone seems to have nailed the assignment of wearing a block coloured t-shirt – and they’ve also all coincidentally learned the same choreography.
Not everyone is happy to two-step in the traffic, though, as we zero in on two car occupants. A grumpy Seb channels his road rage at Mia who is on her way to yet another audition. And here begins one of the greatest musicals, so much so that I can’t believe it’s always only been a film.
Mia and her friends get ready for a night on the town
Girlhood is making your best mate go out when she’s sad about another failed audition. Mia doesn’t want to go out, but as the jaunty first notes of “Someone in the Crowd” begin, Mia and her roommates get ready for a lavish party in the Hollywood hills.
Manifesting that career break through, the girls sweep their home. There are swishing skirts, and there’s a glitter and hairdryer moment that might be the definition of cinema.
Seb and Mia tap dance in “A Lovely Night”
After an antagonistic bump in at a party, in which Mia requests the serious musician perform “I Ran” with his silly tribute band, the two leave together in search of their cars. All the while, the two resist their very clear chemistry, taking jibes at Seb’s polyester suit. But then…the view is too good to waste on nothing…
The pair deliver a very satisfying synchronised tap dance, and this is the moment we see the iconic movie poster created – including the unextended hand that has haunted Ryan Gosling ever since.
And then Seb and Mia dance in the stars
I never really thought about wanting to visit the Griffith Observatory until I watched La La Land and Mia and Seb literally danced in the stars. This follows Mia almost fumbling Seb altogether when she double-books herself with her boyfriend. Of course, this is the movies and she makes the right choice, joining Seb at the cinema to watch a screening of Rebel Without a Cause.
When the projector malfunctions, the pair visit the observatory where they first kiss. But not before they levitate and dance in the stars, where the score of the film crescendos.
Emma Stone woes performing “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)”
It all falls apart somewhere in the middle (I honestly can’t write about it, because it hurts too much), but regardless of the state of their relationship, Seb encourages Mia to take one final audition. During it, Mia is asked about her story and how she came to want to be an actress. What follows is the most gorgeous and gut-wrenching monologue sung by Emma Stone. This alone has to have secured her Best Leading Actress win at the Oscars.
La La Land’s Epilogue is its magnum opus
I am a self-confessed theatre kid. Aside from the emotional ruining that hashing back through Seb and Mia’s journey causes, the what if’s and could’ve been’s, “The Epilogue” sequence captures what it is to love the arts, particularly acting, the movies, and the theatre.
As the pair waltz through painted scenery, we also get a sniff at how their story could’ve played out, together, rather than Mia sitting in Seb’s jazz bar, watching him perform their theme while holding the hand of her husband.
Relive all these scenes at Cineworld when La La Land returns for its 10th Anniversary.
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