This is definitely the best live action musical since Moulin Rouge! Emma Stone is just enchanting. I've known her potential charm knows no bounds since first noticing her in Superbad - and this was that unbound performance I've been waiting for from her all these years. She's so much better suited to this kind of role than when she tries to be angst-y and tortured ala Birdman. The movie glides along on air, making the abrupt fall from cloud nine all the more affecting.
Most of all, I'm blown away by this music. I wouldn't toss this word around lightly about a modern musical, but "timeless" kept coming to mind to describe the songs. "City of Stars" is just marvelous. That simple melody is hauntingly wondrous and captures the essence of the film spectacularly. As much as I stan for Moana's songs, CoS deserves to win. As much as I loved Portman, Stone deserves to win. And the movie deserves to win BP more than any other musical in decades.