Movie tip

La La Land

There's a reason this movie has been winning all sorts of awards: it sparkles with big-screen magic. It references old-school musicals while creating a modern, sometimes bittersweet take on the tradition. Give thanks to Damien Chazelle, who wrote and directed this homage to Hollywood and the dreamers who flock there. And give thanks to Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, who bring crackling humor and smarts to their roles as two of those dreamers. Their singing and dancing are fine. Their acting and their chemistry, though, are downright marvelous. Chazelle loves to trains the camera on Stone's face or on Gosling's profile. Hey, he clearly appreciates the sheer charisma of his stars.