Damien Chazelle: Hollywood's Wunderkind

As the title suggests, Damien Chazelle is one of the brighest young (for directors anyway) filmmakers in Hollywood right now. From his films being great on the technical fronts, to getting career-best/overall strong work from his actors, and especially knowing how to end a film, Chazelle will be around "La La Land" (sorry) for a long time.

Now that he's announced his next film (a 1920s-Hollywood-set film where he will reunite with Emma St-I'M SOLD), let's take a look back at his three mainstream films so far.

This will definitely look good on his Ivy League applications.

3. Whiplash (4.5)

I am more in the "really like" camp than the "love" field that many seem to, however, I still think this is an interesting film that takes a good look at the "career vs. family/friends" argument.

The technical elements of the film are outstanding, as the sound editing/mixing really add a lot to the drumming scenes, as well as the music in general. The editing in the film also makes the scenes have a certain life to them, with particular mention to the famous (infamous?) "rushing/dragging" scene.

Besides that, the film is led by a good performance by Miles Teller as the young Andrew Niemann, where he portrays a music student who will do whatever it takes to be considered one of the jazz drummers of all-time. He makes the passion seem something that truly comes from Niemann, as well as the exhaustion when he's pushed around. 

However, I would be remiss if I were not to mention the other main performance: J.K. Simmons as Terence Fletcher. In a very-deserved Oscar-winning role, Simmons is excellent as the terrifying music conductor who pushes his students to the edge (literally, if he was allowed). Simmons makes sure to give every threat/burn a visceral sting, as each of them serve their purpose in terrifying his students. Besides that, Simmons isn't even one-note as Fletcher. He delivers moments of warmth, such as when he initially interacts with his students, as well as instances of downplayed passion ("good job..."). The character of Fletcher would've been more straightforward and possibly even rote in a lesser film than Whiplash.

The ending sends out the film on a strong note, as we see Fletcher finally approve of Andrews ambition and talent, as well Chazelles' direction really making the most out of Andrews' drum solo climax.

2. First Man (5)

Chazelles' first foray out of jazz/music and also his first that he only directs. First Man is a great film that has only resonated more in my mind ever since it first came out, as we see Neil Armstrongs' (Ryan Gosling) journey to becoming the titular man to reach the moon. There are many great moments in the film, but I'll start with the technicals once again.

The first being that the visual effects were VERY deserving of the Oscar win, as Chazelle knows how to simply make you believe that the space scenes really take place there. Both the moon and outer space really come to life in this film, and it is even more impressive when you realize that the film wasn't very expensive to make.

The action scenes are also very well-done. Take the opening "X-15" scene where we see Armstrong fly off the atmosphere and crash into the Mohave desert. That scene has a true visceral impact, as the editing and sound design really make you feel that you are right there with Armstrong. Not to mention the performance by Gosling himself which adds the human element and draws you in even further to the scene.

Speaking of Gosling, he is simply outstanding as Neil Armstrong. Although he is not quite a "chameleon" himself, that really shouldn't be a knock against him, he really makes a vivid character out of Armstrong. For example, the dinner table scene the night before he is scheduled to fly to the moon is a great moment for Gosling, as we see him tell his sons that he may not make it back. This could've just been a standard biopic scene if the film was in lesser hands, however, here Gosling lets us know how delivering this warning affects him internally.

The rest of the cast is also quite good, with Claire Foy as Janet Armstrong. Again, Janet could've been depicted as the typical housewife-in-a-biopic character. In First Man, we see many of the reservations that she has with the space program ("You're just a bunch of boys!") as well as her loving relationship with Neil himself. Kyle Chandler, Jason Clarke, and Corey Stoll are also good as prominent people that were involved in the NASA program.

Ah yes...the ending. Again, Chazelle truly aces the moon landing sequence, as the music and direction behind it make it feel almost like a dance, as we see Armstrong and Aldrin slowly land on the moon. However, what REALLY takes the ending (and the film) further is Armstrong leaving behind his daughters' bracelet in the crater. That scene is perfectly directed by Chazelle, as he doesn't shove it in your face, but still lets you experience what Armstrong is feeling, which is also enhanced by Goslings minimal, yet excellent performance. *Wipes tear away*

A truly great film the more that I think about it, and I get annoyed every time I see a lesser biopic, as First Man shows what can be done with the genre besides copy-pasting Wikipedia.

1. La La Land (5)

A truly wonderful film, that works as a great musical, but also as another version of Chazelles' "career vs. family/friends" thesis. This film fires on all cylinders, so I'll once again start with the technical.

I will admit that the film received way more Oscar nominations than it really deserved, however, I won't hold that against it. The cinematography is great in many scenes of the film, with special mention to the "space dancing" scene and many other scenes that take place in outdoor Los Angeles. One could say the production design of the film is really owed to location scouting of the area, however it does serve its purpose of illustrating the jazz music scene in LA, as well as showbiz. The costumes also do a good job of showing where the characters in the film are at in life, such as Sebastian dressing more casually in the beginning compared to the suits he wears at the end. 

The film is also quite funny in several moments, such as the "death glare" after requesting "I Ran",  the cutaway to the Prius car keys, as well as JK Simmons "You're fired" and his little smile at the end of the film. There are many great sequences and scenes in the film, including one I'll mention at the end, but these include: the piano solo, the dinner fight, the opening number, "City of Stars" (both versions), "Someone in the Crowd" and the dating montage in the middle of the film.

Past that, many of the songs are quite memorable and really work in adding to the film. Take "Another Day of Sun", which is quite the catchy song, but also lets us into the perspective of someone who is trying to make their dream come true. Take "City of Stars", which also goes hand-in-hand with the previous song of living a dream, and what it means to pursue it.

I haven't even gotten to the acting yet, which is once again terrific here. Emma Stone is luminous, funny, and charming to be sure, yet she is also heartbreaking in her main dramatic scene at the end of the film, which is most likely the scene that clinched her the Oscar for Best Actress. On the other side of the coin, Ryan Gosling is great in an old-school romantic leading turn as the struggling jazz musician Sebastian. He delivers the charm here and has a great handle on Chazelles' tone and script. Although his dramatic scenes didn't quite receive the same attention Stones' did when the film first came out, they shouldn't be handwaved, as he is great in showing how his jazz dreams affect him when it comes to his relationship with Mia (Emma Stone). 

Again,  La La Land is a truly great film that fully shows what can be accomplished with cinema, however I would like to conclude with the final montage of the film: the epilogue. In one of Chazelles' best directed moments, we see a perfect encapsulation of the film without seeming like pure exposition. We see the true "What If?" of the ways that Sebastian and Mia's relationship could've worked out if they hadn't decided what they did. There are many great moments in that sequence, such as the Paris shoot, the jazz solo, and best of all, the "homestyle" footage of the life that Mia and Sebastian could've had instead. Top that with the great arrangement that is, well, "Epilogue" and the film goes out on a very high note, not to mention the glance that Mia and Sebastian share at the last few seconds of the film, where they share the love they shared...and also the melancholy.

What is you favorite Chazelle film? Your least favorite? Answer off in the comments!