Once

I <3 this movie.

I don't think I can do this movie justice with a review. I've always been more of a ranter (hated writing papers on books) than a raver, so I'll have to leave the analysis to the professionals (imdb 8.1, ebert 4 stars, rotten tomatoes 97%)... but I just really really liked this movie.

It's a musical... but different. The characters don't just burst into song walking down the street. It's about two unnamed characters (credited Guy and Girl), dirt poor, aspiring musicians who meet and end up sharing their music and recording an album together.

If it's possible, I think I liked this movie more than Juno. I guess because I didn't leave Juno wanting to be a witty 16 year-old preggo girl. But this movie made my heart swell. I guess I could stretch and say I felt like I could relate to main character. His awkwardness. The procrastinator coward perpetually putting dreams on hold and fucking up everything he really cares about.

But probably the truth is more that I'm so different from his character and that's why I felt it so much. I'm sitting here wasting away in my books working towards a 'respectable' career... and a part of me just wished to trade places with him. To be that guy on the street playing music for spare change. Not the bum, but the guy with heart and real passion for his music... falling in love with the poor immigrant girl who works selling flowers to make ends meet.

I wish I could play the guitar. I wish I had the time to learn (or the willpower). I've always wanted to be a songwriter of some sort but I guess that line of business is tough when you have zero musical ability (I swear if I had just been given lessons!)

Spielberg was quoted as saying "A little movie called Once gave me enough inspiration to last the rest of the year." Not bad for a movie filmed in a matter of weeks for a grand total of 160 thousand dollars. For some reason it reminded me a lot of Lost in Translation, which I really hated the first time I saw it but really liked after a recent rewatch. Similar in the way the characters felt awkward and real... but much sweeter.

The main characters are played by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, first time actors and real life musicians (Hansard is frontman for The Frames, whom many apparently believe is the real great Irish band, not U2). The songs in this musical are really, really good. Most cowritten by the Hansard and Irglova. Guy teaching girl "Falling Slowly" I thought was the most heartfelt movie scene that I can remember.

Anyway, go watch this movie, and then tell me if you don't like it so I can know whom to never speak to again.

Song of the Week: Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova - Failling Slowly.mp3

Also really good from the Full Album:
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova - When Your Mind's Made Up.mp3
Glen Hansard - Say It to Me.mp3

Falling Slowly (to clips from the movie):