'La La Land' musical takes top prize at Toronto film festival

By Ethan Lou TORONTO (Reuters) - "La La Land," a musical tale of star-crossed lovers chasing their dreams in Hollywood, won the top prize at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday. The People's Choice Award, chosen by the votes of audience members, makes "La La Land" an early front-runner in the Oscar best picture race. Other recent winners of the Toronto prize have gone on to win the top Oscar, such as "Slumdog Millionaire," "The King's Speech" and "12 Years a Slave." Starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, "La La Land" follows the two leads as their lives converge in poetic chaos while they try to make their respective dreams come true in the midst of a blossoming love affair.