Begin Again, 2013.
Written and Directed by John Carney.
Starring Keira Knightley, James Corden, Mark Ruffalo, Hailee Steinfeld, Catherine Keener, Adam Levine, Mos Def and Ceelo Green.
SYNOPSIS:
A chance encounter between a disgraced music-business executive and a young singer-songwriter new to Manhattan turns into a promising collaboration between the two talents.
After the huge success of his debut effort, Once, which has not only sold countless soundtracks over the years but is now taking the global theatre world by storm, director John Carney continues the musical theme across the pond in America for his latest smash, Begin Again, which was arguably the most talked about film this summer that didn’t include explosions, mutants, superheroes or Galaxy guardians.
This a film all about new beginnings, whether in life, love or indeed music: business executive Dan (Ruffalo) hasn’t been bringing in the big bucks lately, and is fired from his job; young singer-songwriter Gretta (Knightley) was once part of a music power-couple with Dave Kohl (Maroon 5’s Adam Levine) before he cheated on her. The two lost souls meet almost by accident at an open-mic night where Gretta is forced to perform by her best friend Steve (Corden): Gretta thinks it’s a disaster, Dan eyes light up at her potential, and after much convincing and scrounging, the two team up to create a unique “live” album showcasing Gretta’s talents.
While many have proclaimed the film to be one of the best films of year, it’s hard to deny that Begin Again has a uniquely infectious quality; the kind that comes from everyone involved embracing the type of film they are making, as well as the melodies surrounding it. It’s hard not to feel you toes tapping, hands clapping or indeed heart warming as Knightley, Ruffalo and their mismatched group of musical aficionados take to the streets of New York with their undistinguished but hugely enjoyable tunes. Indeed, some of the songs themselves may resonate different from one person to the next depending on your mood, but there is no denying that at least one of the songs performed here will get that head bobbing.
However, outside of the musical numbers and Knightley’s sultry vocals, Begin Again is quite a flimsy rom-com that does everything that is expected of it. While it may sway slightly from the usual formula in certain parts of the story, it all becomes very predictable very quickly and the sunny, breezy moments outstay their welcome well before the big crescendo. Carney, who knows his way around the music business, chooses instead to just let the music do the talking rather than adding some biting wit or satire about the industry itself, which may have added the solid backbone that the film lacks.
The acting too is just as lopsided: Knightley, having a stellar year with three acclaimed films, gives one of her better performances here, full of warmth and humour; while Hailee Steinfeld isn’t given too much to chew on, but still helps to elevate the film up a few notches. Sadly, the likes of James Corden and Adam Levine struggle to make any real impact at all (the latter particularly out of his depth), side-lined until the plot needs them too appear and move everything forward. Thank goodness then for Mark Ruffalo, who not for the first time saves the day. Almost certainly on the brink of a big leading-man breakthrough, the charismatic, charming Wisconsin-born delivers another stellar performance that has all the trademarks of his best work, and can sit proudly alongside his exceptional work in Foxcatcher and The Normal Heart this year.
A crowd-pleaser in every sense of the word, Begin Again is a breezy, upbeat tale accompanied by a great soundtrack and great turns from Knightley and Ruffalo. That said, it’s charming exterior cannot compensate for its soft centre, which is lacking any true rhythm, and stops the film elevating itself amongst the year’s best.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film ★ ★ / Movie ★ ★ ★
Scott Davis
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Originally published November 10, 2014. Updated April 13, 2018.
