10 Times Movies Secretly Spoiled Their Own Story
4. The Opening Song's Lyrics Spell Out The Ending - La La Land
La La Land wasn't quite the movie that many expected it to be.
Far from a frothy homage to classic Hollywood musicals, writer-director Damien Chazelle's romantic dramedy was far more of a mature, pragmatic look at life and relationships, and one which concluded in unexpectedly bittersweet fashion.
If the bulk of the movie is a "do they, don't they?" between budding actress Mia (Emma Stone) and jazz pianist Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), it ultimately turns out that their aspirations lead them in different directions. Though they share a fondness for one another, they ultimately don't end up together.
This is actually spelled out in the film's stunning opening musical number, "Another Day of Sun," which includes these lyrics:
"'Cause maybe in that sleepy town / He'll sit one day, the lights are down / He'll see my face and think of how he / Used to know me."
This effectively describes La La Land's final scene, where Mia and her husband walk into a jazz bar owned by Sebastian where he's playing the piano. Mia and Sebastian then lock eyes and imagine a potential future they could've shared once upon a time, before continuing along on their separate paths.