La La Land is a joyous filmgoing experience, a musical brimming with optimism that never becomes treacly, ably directed by Whiplash's Damien Chazelle and featuring fantastic performances by leads Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. It's an homage to a bygone era of Hollywood musicals while also refreshing the genre, a love letter to Los Angeles while also representing the city's many flaws, and an ode to dreamers while also exploring the costs that come with exploring your dreams.