MovieChat Forums > Begin Again (2014) Discussion > Great Companion Piece To "Once"!

Great Companion Piece To "Once"!

posted 9 years ago by MovieHoliks
7 replies | jump to latest

It was pure coincidence recently, when I got out my DVD of "Once" and made my annual viewing, that I realized this movie was on Showtime- director John Carney's follow-up to that movie (other than "Zonad"-OMG- had NO idea he also did that crazy film??!). And like it's predecessor, it's a winner!

Also like "Once", the music is the real star of the show. Both of these films are what I like to call "hybrid musicals". They're not your traditional musicals where the characters break out in song out in the open, and the imagined music in their heads in glaring. These "hybrid musicals", the songs are performed by the characters- with instruments, but they fuel the story along in a similar way to a traditional musical.

The story of this film was inspired by "A Star is Born" with Mark Ruffalo as a down-on-his-luck former famous recording producer, who stumbles across a struggling musician in a nightclub (Knightly- who I believe was doing her own singing in this, but as I was watching this, I actually thought it was NOT her-??). He then takes her under his wing as he tries to guide her music to internet success in the midst of juggling the lives of his ex-wife and teenage daughter- Catherine Keener and Haley Steinfeld (the 2010 "True Grit" remake). Mos Def co-stars as his former partner, who still runs/owns the firm they created together, and Adam Levine has what I believe is his first film role. Big thumbs up for this one!

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[–] cesca2 9 years ago

Yes! I like these new hybrids too. I didn't realize these films had the same creators, until afterwards, but I sure saw the connections. It sounded like Adam Levine's character was based on the guy from Once. I wonder if he also had a girlfriend behind the scenes while making that film. Now I'm also wondering what happened to his career after Once came out. Did he go commercial or did he stay with his indie roots?

I'm glad that this film didn't follow the Star is Born plot. She seems determined to NOT become a star for one thing, and I'd hate for him to become a drunk that walks into the ocean to drown. I found it very refreshing that they didn't fall into bed with one another.

What other "hybrid musicals" did you like? I really liked August Rush which was loosely based on Dicken's Oliver.

[–] MovieHoliks 9 years ago

Agreed that it was refreshing the two didn't fall into bed with one another. Some other "hybrids"-??- "Saturday Night Fever", "Jersey Boys" (movie NOT the musical) and one of my personal favs- "Eddie and the Cruisers"- a little-seen movie that ended up finding a cult audience on home video and especially cable TV.

One thing about the director of "Once" and "Begin Again"- I was shocked to find this out- in between directing those two wonderful "hybrid musicals" about struggling musicians he made this insane super-hero comedy called "Zonad"! You wouldn't even recognize the auteurship between THAT movie and the two in question! It's god-AWFULly bad!- but actually so bad it's kinda good! LOL

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[–] cesca2 9 years ago

I really liked Eddie and the Cruisers too. I haven't seen it in many years so I'll have to look for it again. I saw a live production of Jersey Boys and really enjoyed the music. Since you're calling it a hybrid, I take it that there will be more actual acting along with the music.

[–] MovieHoliks 9 years ago

Yes, I haven't seen the live musical of "Jersey Boys", but was told it was more the traditional musical where the characters actually break out into song. The movie version only has the characters sing in their performances. I was actually kinda disappointed they went that route, even though normally I prefer the "hybrid musical" over the traditional ones. I'm a big fan of the 4 Seasons, and was curious how the songs would be used...

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[–] spookyrat1 9 years ago

Yes, a related piece from the other side of the Atlantic.🐭

[–] waltstar99682 9 years ago

Both great musical movies. Love both of them.

[–] libbyhatch21-1 8 years ago

Yeah ONCE was the first thing that came to mind.