La La Land (2016), directed by Damien Chazelle

Billed as a modern-day, old-fashioned musical, La La Land is clever, often funny and surprising. It’s a contradiction of a film, which pays homage to the Hollywood dream, while at the same time poking fun at it. The primary colour palette is striking and plays well with the visual joke of the seasons passing but the weather never changing. The music is delightful and tells the story perfectly, which is just as well as there is little dialogue. As aspiring actress Mia, Emma Stone is lovely although she could do with a little more meat on her bones – her startling eyes look too big for her face. Ryan Gosling is more subdued as jazz pianist Sebastian, but the pair makes a convincing combination. The unexpectedly bittersweet ending reminds that following your dreams comes at a cost, especially in Hollywood.