Once is very low budget Irish film that's getting rave reviews after winning the Audience Award at Sundance this year. It's about an unnamed Irish guy that plays his guitar on the streets of Dublin when not working in his father's vacuum repair shop. He meets an unnamed Czech girl that likes his music and plays piano. They play some more together, learn a little about each and make a demo recording.
Ok, it's not really about the plot. No really it's not. They guy is getting over a past love. We don't learn much about the girl at first and I kept expecting a big secret to be revealed but instead she has a background story that's all too common but still interesting. The stars, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová are not actors but musicians. The film is certainly more than an extended music video but it's an excuse to tell a small story through music. You can hear many of the songs on the album The Swell Season.
I liked the music, but found many of the songs very similar. Irish accents get in the way of understanding the dialog a few times but the worst is the first scene (which is pretty fun), it gets better after that. Once is nothing like a Hollywood musical, instead there are no costumes, dance numbers or even music that comes out of nowhere. Instead muscians play music (sometimes in public) and sing heartfelts songs and a hand held camera films it all.
I liked Once but don't understand the universal praise that's being heaped on this film. I appreciate what was done for only about $150,000 but I did check my watch a couple of times. I think I probably would have enjoyed the soundtrack a little more.
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