Yes this will probably sweep many Oscars and in one sense that's not bad as it is a very well made drama/romance/musical/comedy ( see how many audiences it is calculated to appeal to!) BUT it still sentimentally indulges itself in a romanticisation of Hollywood, the experience of being a struggling artist, the painful glamour of that ( hello Puccini?) and how one can finally fulfil ones dreams.
The leads are good,charismatic even,and they do have that chemistry that is tricky to describe or show but which is immediately recognisable. Stone and Gosling, in many ways, try to channel Fred and Ginger...and to be honest don't do too bad a job( but the dancing is nowhere NEAR that exalted level.
I did like the way it was unashamedly a musical musical with people bursting into song in strange situations for no greatly appropriate dramatic reason other than the fact that it seemed to be time for another musical number...and the opening sequence was wonderful! Funny, clever and very engaging. It really yanked you into the world and mood of the film.
A super piece of really superior light entertainment..in that way very old fashioned like an MGM musical. If you see it you will enjoy it ( although you will at times think 'this is Baz Luhrman-lite!'