Here are all the iconic musical movie references in 'La La Land' you need to know

Critics have described this year's Oscar frontrunner for best picture as a step back in time - and for good reason.

"La La Land," written and directed by Damien Chazelle ("Whiplash"), pays homage to classic movies and the greats that came long before Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone were stars. In fact, both actors have admitted to studying the classic film musicals while preparing for their own roles in the award-winning movie.

From "Funny Face" to "Singin' in the Rain," here are all the references to classic movies in "La La Land" you need to know: