Jul 12 2007
“Once” (2007)
Movie Review: Once
Starring: Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova, Alaistair Foley, Geoff Minogue
Directed by: John Carney
Released (US): 2007
Search until your eyes turn bloodshot and they request a urine sample from you at the office, you’ll be hard pressed to find any thing “real” in the summer blockbuster pool this summer.
Don’t get me wrong…
I too want Transformers, I too want Harry Potter’s latest offering, and, of course, I want the long lost “yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker” from an aging John McLane. Why? Because I’m in my 30’s goddammit!
I need to feel that phone-home….
You know the one, that scene that carries you back. Back to when you were young enough to know that something was on the way, but not nearly wise enough to accept the responsibility of that “something”.
But, and this is a hefty “But”, I’ve come to learn that, in my “old” age, there’s so much more to film than the vacuous rush of the summer blockbuster. Escapism maybe key during this summer of mounting death tolls, crushing truths, and over all saddening facts. But what if I were to tell you about a small, micro budget film that spoke to all of us on a level that transcended aggression (both physical and satirical)??
It does exist, and, if you can find it, you should owe it to yourself to find “Once”.
“Once” is a wonderful musical written and directed by John Carney that revolves around a young couple that meet each other in the streets of Dublin, Ireland. Both are trying to find themselves, one’s a street musician/vacuum repairman (played by real life front man of the band “The Frames”, Glen Hansard) and the other, a street rose peddler/maid/talented Czech pianist (played adorably by Marketa Irglova, loved and appreciated in her native Czech Republic). On the script they’re nameless (something I love in a screenplay for some odd reason), have never starred in any other films before, and we never actually learn their character’s names when the credits roll, but what happens in between is probably the most “real”, organic and genuine love stories that have graced the screen in a LONG time!
From two completely different lives, but ultimately the same roots, these two unlikely friends find each other at the just the right time. They have little in common except for their undying love of music and the need to create it. And it is that universal language that brings them incredibly close. I refuse to divulge much more than that, but suffice it to say that if you and your’s love music, and love each other (maybe because of your love of music), “Once” could quite possibly be the biggest sleeper “date” movie of the summer.
I’m biased of course.
Melinda (my incredible wife) and I literally got to know each other through our love of music. In fact I would go out on a limb and say that if music never existed, it’s quite possible that tadandmel.com may never have existed. So much of our life together has been spent listening to, appreciating, and singing music to each other. So to see a movie about two folks brought together by music is a no-brainer, sentimental hit for us. But make no mistake, this movie is about as genuine and real as they get. There’s no cheese, no traditional love scenes, no swooning kisses, no hand holding through a field of daisies…. Yes, 60% of the movie is based in acoustic ballads, but what takes place on screen is something anyone who has loved or hoped to be loved in return, could relate to; be it painfully or gratefully.
It’s definitely in the top 10 this year and maybe in the top 5. If you find it playing, bring a loved one and support it.
Seriously, it’s a true gem.
[...] for the crappy photo above it was taken with my phone (trust me, it’s them). As I’ve mentioned before, we really loved the movie “Once” and the two stars of the movie Glen Hansard (lead singer for another incredible group, “The [...]