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Once
Directed by: John Carney
Starring: Glen Hansard
Genre:
Musical
Run Time: 85
min.
Release Date:
May 2007
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
With multiple film festival
award wins (and a recent Oscar nod) and produced on a shoestring budget
(in just 17 days), ONCE is an independent movie marvel. But this
isn’t what should draw you to it. The draw should be its quirky humor,
its incredible music (nearly 2/3 of the film is entirely music), and its
intimate portrayal of two people making music while forming a strong
bond of friendship.
The main actor and actress aren’t even given names; there’s no reason to
as this Guy (played by guitarist extraordinaire Glen Hansard) and Girl
(pianist Marketa Irglova) could be anyone off the street. Anyone with an
incredible gift for music, that is. Both Guy and Girl work differing
jobs than their hearts desire, Guy as a Hoover vacuum cleaner repairman
and Girl as a house cleaner. But both have aspirations toward music, Guy
more than Girl ...initially. Guy, on his off-time from the Hoover shop,
panhandles on a street corner, belting out known songs during the day
and his own at night (when no one’s around). Girl discovers him and asks
him why he doesn’t play his own music during the day, and thus starts a
series of events that speed this short film to a satisfying conclusion.
I say “speed” in the sense of how short and sweet the film is, not
because it is an action or speedy-type film in any way, shape, or form.
In fact, if you were going to ding the film for anything, it would be
its pacing. Sometimes achingly slow, the story nearly stalls at several
points, but thankfully never falters completely.
The music is what makes Once what it is, and rightfully so. This
is a story about musical wishes and dreams, and how those dreams should
never be let go of no matter what the circumstances. Sometimes it takes
a wallop upside the head to get you back to your dreams, and Girl is
exactly the smack Guy needed in order to accomplish his. Her enjoyment
of his songs and her persistent requests to hear more and more from him
drive Guy to higher and higher levels. Although much of Guys’ songs are
based around a former relationship gone sour, it is Girl that opens his
eyes to the fact that he still loves his girlfriend and his music ...and
this awakening is all thanks to a platonic relationship with a
stunningly pretty Czech (Girl).
Although Girl gives Guy what he needs, he too gives her something in
return. Both come to understand how important their friendship is and
what it will eventually mean to them, even should their dreams fail.
Chasing after them no matter what the cost becomes all too evident as
the film winds to a close.
You can’t comment on Once without noting its camera work, too. It
is very amateurish, almost as if someone were filming an episode of
Wayne’s World (in Wayne’s basement). But it is the amateurish nature
that binds the audience to the characters. You feel like you are the
camera, peeking at these peoples’ intimate lives from behind this corner
or through that window.
And the music; it’s impressive in the extreme, so much so it got
nominated for Best Achievement in Music via the Oscars
this year (2008), something of a shock for such a low budget film (much
smaller than any previous nominee). Glen Hansard has “the voice” and his
co-actress, Marketa Iglova, is no slouch either. Both are musical
talents that can make you laugh one minute and nearly bring you to tears
the next. And since over 60% of the film is music, that’s a very good
thing. In fact, for Once, it’s the only thing.
(back to top) |
Image from Once
DVD cost: $23.04
Purchase:
BestPrices.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
The song "Broken Hearted
Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy" was filmed during a spontaneous moment during
filming. It was never meant to make it into the film but the director
liked it so much he kept it in the movie.
Movie Quote: "When
your minds made up! When your minds made up! {lyrics}"
Other Actors/Actresses
from Once
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