993. ONCE (2006)

Running Time: 85 minutes
Directed By: John Carney
Written By: John Carney
Main Cast: Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova
Click here to view the trailer

MUST SEE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, MUST HEAR

Well we turn from big budget blockbuster to a film that was made on a shoestring budget and filmed with a handheld camera, "Once". The film is a very good one, but even more noteworthy than the images that appear on the screen, are the songs that back up the story.

The film focuses on a guy (Hansard) who makes his living fixing Hoover vacuum cleaners and busking on the streets of Dublin, Ireland. One day, while pouring his heart out, with his guitar case lying on the street in front of him, he draws an audience member in the form of a girl (Irglova). The two strike up a conversation and next thing he knows, he's fixing her broken Hoover vacuum cleaner and jamming with her in a local music store. Turns out she plays piano and the two hit it off famously. He's just had his heart broken by a cheating girlfriend and she has a child, but is separated from her husband. They hang out over the course of a week, him wanting to take their relationship to the next level, her just wanting to be friends. When he finally gets the picture that she doesn't want to get romantic, he decides to take off for London to find his cheating ex-girlfriend and patch things up. Before he leaves, the two hire a band and a studio and record some songs together.

One could argue that if you strip away the songs from "Once", you're not left with much. In fact, I may even be one of the advocates for that argument. However, there is a pretty solid story going on here too. Yes, it's a lot of singing, but the songs are brilliant and if you can watch the film straight through without rewinding back and re-listening to at least one song, then you have more will power than I do. I watched this film once before and remember not liking it very much. However, this time around I saw it in a different light (this, kiddies, is why you always give a film two chances to win you over). For me, this film is about those connections that we make in our life and then lose in the blink of an eye, never to be seen again - those one time meetings that last a matter of weeks or months and then vanish, without a reunion. Perhaps that's why the film is called "Once". I can remember co-workers that I once knew and considered friends and it's been ages since I've seen them and in reality, I'll probably never see them again. This film reminded me of all of them and the times we shared.

It's not a fancy film, it doesn't have an intricate plot, there's no good guy/bad guy, it's just a movie about a real people, a chance meeting and some great music. Glen Hansard shows that he's not just a musician and that he can actually act. I can't say the same for Marketa Irglova, but she didn't fail completely, so I'll give the musician her credit as well. The handheld shooting only added to the realistic nature of the film and at times, it was easy to forget that you were watching a film. Memorable scenes include "Guy" watching home movies of his ex-girlfriend and singing his song "Lies". Hansard sings with such passion and if there were any more passion in his voice, he'd literally lull your heart into submission.

Did I mention that all the music is original and written by "guy" and "girl"? Listen to these songs and then tell me, honestly, that you don't want to see the film that accompanies them.

Lies
Falling Slowly
When Your Mind's Made Up

RATING: 8/10 Check out the movie, check out the soundtrack. They both deserve your eyes and ears at full attention.

MOVIES WATCHED: 425
MOVIES LEFT TO WATCH: 576

COMING SOON:
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946 - William Wyler)
Yi Yi (2000 - Edward Yang)
Spring in a Small Town (1948 - Fei Mu)

April 15, 2012 12:36am