The much buzzed about modern musical starring Ryan Gosling (Gangster Squad; The Nice Guys) and Emma Stone (Easy A; Birdman), La La Land, debuted its first trailer ahead of its opening night premiere at the Venice Film Festival on August 31. People secured the trailer exclusive along with the cover art for the track single, “City of Stars,” performed by Gosling and played throughout the trailer.
A whistling Gosling who plays the part of Sebastian, a jazz pianist, sets the tone of the trailer with the aforementioned song “City of Stars”. Clips of Sebastian and his aspiring actress girlfriend Mia (Stone) are intercut amongst backdrops of Los Angeles. Both trying to make a name for themselves in the City of Angels, the pressures of Hollywood begin to weigh on everything in their lives.
While there are no lines of dialogue aside from Gosling’s tune, if the lyrics are any indication of what we can expect, nothing can be certain about their future careers or possibly their relationship. The musical is set in modern-day Los Angeles, but feels like a lover letter to musicals of old. There’s so much vibrancy in the costume and cinematography is stunning just from the trailer alone.
Here’s the official plot synopsis for La La Land, courtesy of Lionsgate:
LA LA LAND tells the story of Mia [Emma Stone], an aspiring actress, and Sebastian [Ryan Gosling], a dedicated jazz musician, who are struggling to make ends meet in a city known for crushing hopes and breaking hearts. Set in modern day Los Angeles, this original musical about everyday life explores the joy and pain of pursuing your dreams.
Written and directed by Damien Chazelle, La La Land stars Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, and Rosemarie DeWitt. The film is set to release on December 2, 2016. “City of Stars” is now available for download on streaming services and iTunes.
