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Once (2007) Fox Searchlight Pictures 1 hr. 26 mins. Starring: Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova Directed by: John Carney This film is rated: R Once Rating:  
E-MAIL FRANK OCHIENG Filmmaker John Carney’s Once is definitely not enough...and probably the best musical movie to grace the big screen in quite some time. Thoroughly inspirational, lyrical, charming and cheeky, Carney’s ode to heartwarming song between two soul-searching individuals bound by music and personal motivation is a unique take on how toe-tapping tunes can lend cinema its artistic merit. Infectious in its melodic spirit the Irish romancer Once is a winning spark that ignites the lovelorn imagination. An extremely talented Irish troubadour (Glen Hansard from the Irish band “The Frames”) pours his guts out singing poignant songs to indifferent passersby on the busy Dublin streets. When the singer isn’t belting out a soulful tune for chump change he’s busy repairing vacuum cleaners in his chain-smoking father’s Hoover shop. Clearly, this guy’s fortune rests in his vocal chords and he has the resiliency in his musical craftsmanship to make any record label take notice if only he can land a decent break and showcase his extraordinary gift for crooning. A young and pretty Czech migrant (singer-songwriter Marketa Irglova) makes her presence known to the guitar-playing stranger and compliments him on his musical abilities while soon bonding over a defective vacuum cleaner and shared lunch. Both individuals have a poignant backstory that connects them to their appreciation for music. He is learning to exist without his special lady who “disappeared” for reasons unknown; she is new to the country while juggling the rigors of single motherhood and a strained marriage (her husband is back in the Old Country). This duo is caught in a perpetual malaise in their shanty blue-collar surroundings but the one thing that registers is their steady diet for cranking out noteworthy songs. Ultimately, their collaboration leads to more than a finger-snapping force—a mutual friendship that exists out of gradual curiosity pertaining to the creative process. The amazing pathos behind Once is the sense of quiet urgency that befalls the determined twosome. Actor/musicians Hansgard and Irglova are quite suitable as a couple of big dreamers stuck in the drudgery of their limited, dreary region where prospering economic opportunities are a mere facade. We begin to see the wealth in their conviction for music despite the two-bit jobs that they both engage in to make ends meet rather meekly. They are the epitome of the starving artist and the audience senses that their tenacity to make wishful thinking a reality will be met with encouraging results. Importantly, writer-director Carney is instrumental (no pun intended) in saturating his harmonious-driven melodrama with catchy, reflective tunes that plants the film’s personality with gritty resonance. Haunting ditties such as “Falling Slowly” and “If You Want Me” are symbolic of the film’s sensual rhythms and flow of earthy elegance. As a man in search of his calling for musical salvation, Hansgard is quite impressive and introspective as the nameless “voiced one”. Irglova is a radiant songbird and her contribution is astoundingly energetic. It’s a pure pleasure in watching Hansgard and Irglova’s impoverished characterizations escape into soothing lyrics that undermine the desperation of their everyday plight. Sure, we’ve seen countless times the scenario where two lonely hearts plug into each other’s arms and let the proverbial chips fall where they may. Still, Once proves that this formula is a valid theme given the chance to surround its familiar premise with fresh-minded performances and a cherished soundtrack that crackles with unsparing irresistibility. Click here to comment on this review or post your own thoughts. Frank Ochieng © TheWorldJournal.com |
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