Chris Coots writes…
From my little corner, I’m going to start doing these more often instead of just talking about them with willing listeners in the kitchen. Films are a center for understanding culture, and the bravest, most important ones often go unseen due to lack of distribution. Maybe this will begin the healing process.
FILM REVIEW
Once directed by John Carney
The Nitty Gritty: A hard-luck friendship story about a heartbroken Irish street musician (or busker) and a pretty Czech woman who escapes from her difficult life by playing the piano. They meet. They play. They inspire each other, deal with their complicated love lives, and unleash musical passion over a subtly epic week. Guy and Girl are played by Glen Hansard of The Frames and Markéta Irglová respectively.
Check out the trailer )
Culture: Once or twice a year, one of the major studios tries to breathe life into the movie musical by gluing together a lavish song-and-dance debacle with big time sets, big time editing, big time numbers and extremely watered down, easy to digest emotions. Dreamgirls is the most recent culprit, and Hairspray will soon follow this summer. The big budget movie musical is part of our culture – and not an embarrassing part. It’s good to indulge in the fancy – we do it often – look at all the stuff we have. Leaving behind the glitzy baggage, John Carney’s Once makes a clean break from the trend with its efficient handheld camera, and low-key style. On the wings of its easy-to-love charm, this film takes you to emotional places that no formulaic flashy production ‘round Christmas could even sniff. For this reason it needs to be acknowledged. And for this reason, it will be remembered.
“In its own way, it’ll blow you away.” – Richard Roeper
Background: This was originally supposed to be an entirely different movie. Neither of the two leads are trained or experienced actors; Hansard and Irglová are both professional musicians. Director John Carney, former bassist for Hansard's band The Frames, had asked his long-time friend to share busker anecdotes and compose songs for the film, but had intended the male lead to be played by actor, Cillian Murphy. However, Murphy hated the idea of acting opposite non-actor Irglová (then only 17 years old) and doubted he could handle Hansard's octave-leaping songs, so he pulled out, as did the film's other financiers. Carney then turned to songwriter Hansard, who'd previously done only one acting job over a decade before: a supporting role as guitarist “Outspan Foster” in the 1991 ensemble film The Commitments, the story of a Dublin soul music cover band.
“Though I was initially thinking of using a good actor who could half sing, I quickly realized I should do it the other way around and get a good singer who could half act,” director Carney said.
Hansard initially disagreed, fearing that he wouldn't be able to pull it off, but after stipulating that he had to be fully involved in the filmmaking process, unlike his previous experience, and that it be low-budget and intimate, he agreed. And he pulled it off.
Why You Should See It: The no-brainer story and effortlessly brilliant acting allow you to focus on moving in and out of what matters - strong songs. Hansard’s stirring vocal style and Irglová’s lovely loveliness are only among Once’s charms, as nearly all critics are giving it enthusiastic reviews and calling it the first great musical of the 21st century. It also won World Cinema Audience Award for a dramatic film at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. See it. It’ll leave you humming and feeling like the world is your movie set.
To learn more about Glen Hansard and The Frames, click here.
Get the soundtrack on iTunes and check out the album “The Swell Season” recorded by Hansard and Irglová, blossoming from their collaboration in the film.
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