It is not often that I do film reviews on DVD releases, but with a film this good I just could not resist. Without setting out to do so I have become a big fan of ‘music’ films over the past few years. My definition of a ‘music film’ is pretty broad and encompasses any film in which I feel that music is one of the primary characters in the film. More recent examples of films that I have liked for the music as much as anything else are Elizabethtown, August Rush, Juno, and now Once.
My wife received a copy of Once as a birthday gift a few weeks back and last night we finally had a chance to screen it. Within the first few minutes of hearing Glen Hansard’s music I was lost–hopelessly drowning in the emotional sea of this film. I never ceased to be amazed at the talent of creative souls and this film was simply brilliant.
The story is a fairly simple one: two lost souls meet over their mutual melancholy and form a musical bond that results in a week long creation of glorious music. One of the most interesting things about experiencing Once is the feeling of watching a documentary on the musicians themselves coupled with an innocently voyeuristic look into the highs and lows of love. Once is a modern musical. The term ‘musical’ brings with it certain expectations, but for all that Once is indeed a musical–albeit one without choreographed dance numbers and jazz hands.
Once succeeds for many reasons, not the least of which are the emotional bonds the audience forms with non-actor musicians Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. Both are friends and collaborators in ‘real life’ and their natural chemistry works well, making their brief journey with us as viewers quite powerful. There is a sweet and gentle sincerity to their relationship. Glen Hansard sings with such raw emotion and Czech-born Marketa Irglova’s beautiful voice and piano playing provides the music with a more rounded and resonant sound. I spent the whole of Monday at work with the song ‘Falling Slowly’ playing in my head. Just to give you a taste of the film I point you to this You Tube clip from the film in which our two protagonists get together to play for the first time. Their interaction is so wonderful, as is the song:
Once succeeds in telling a story predominately with music. Granted, there are some non-musical moments but those moments occupy a smaller percentage of the film. They are no less important, however, and I found myself amazed at how much I connected with characters who had precious little screen time, particularly Hansard’s character’s father. His relationship with his son was one of many moments in the film where I found my eyes welling with tears. It is so incredible how powerful music can be and this film, with its music, rocked me with emotion.
Now that I have sat through Once and perused the extras (there are a few nice ones on this DVD), I am thrilled that Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova won the Oscar for best song this year. If you didn’t see the Oscars this year, you can see their very heartfelt acceptance speech here. This is the kind of moment the Oscars should be about.
And speaking of the Oscars, I have never respected Jon Stewart so much as when he brought Marketa Irglova back out on stage after the music ushers her off (bastards) and allows her to share her thanks. This is potentially a once in a lifetime opportunity for her (pardon the pun) and it touched me so much that he recognized this and had the gallantry to bring her back out and allow her the moment in the spotlight that she earned. Kudos to you Jon Stewart.
Hansard and Irglova are enchanting in their roles. I love seeing ‘normal’ people who are in turn quite beautiful. A little background from the movie site if you need it:
Born in Dublin, Ireland in 1970, Glen Hansard is the lead singer, guitarist and a founding member of Irish rock group The Frames. He quit school at the age of 13 to begin busking on Dublin streets and gradually established himself as one of Irish music’s most popular and greatest talents. He first came to public attention as guitar player Outspan Foster in the Alan Parker film THE COMMITMENTS.
Prior to THE COMMITMENTS, he secured a record deal with Island Records and subsequently formed The Frames in 1990. The band has been recording and touring ever since, and included filmmaker John Carney as bass player in its earliest incarnation. The band released their sixth studio album The Cost in September 2006 to widespread acclaim. The Frames are currently touring around Europe and will reach the USA in early 2007.
In April 2006, Hansard released his first solo album, The Swell Season, in collaboration with Czech singer and multi-instrumentalist Marketa Irglova.
Born in Monravia in 1988, and a resident of Prague in the Czech
Republic, Marketa Irglova is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter.
Although only 19, she has proved to be quite a talent, having already recorded an album of music with Glen Hansard while also co-starring alongside him in ONCE.
She began playing music at the age of seven, when her parents got her a piano and piano lessons. When she was nine, her father bought her a guitar and she immediately began playing and learning songs by ear. She met Glen Hansard when he was visiting Prague, and they began playing together and eventually collaborated musically, which resulted in the release of an album, The Swell Season.
I adored them both. I also went out first thing Monday morning and bought the soundtrack to Once and have been playing it over and over again.
Once is a melancholy yet hopeful film that celebrates the power of the connection of music, celebrates friendship, and celebrates love with all of its ups and downs. Once is what independent film making is all about and is an example of why I love medium so much.
I highly recommend total immersion into this film. Once is beautiful and brilliant and deserving of every ounce of praise and critical acclaim. Fair play to you all!
I’m hooked. The combination of your review and the You Tube clip makes this a priority. Thanks, Carl. Just added to the Netflix que and moved it to the top!
I kept looking at this movie and thinking – “later” – but now up the queue it goes. Thanks.
With such a review I had to jump over to Netflix and put Once at the top of my queue. I’ll let you know what I think later. Carl, you do have a passionate way to review.
Jim
Thanks Jim. I was thinking about you when I was watching this film, wondering if you had seen it as I know you like a variety of films as well.
Andi and JenClair (and Jim for that matter): I look forward to your thoughts on this once you’ve seen it. I recommend watching the ‘making of’ extra on the DVD afterwards, it has some revealing this about the film and the process of making it.
The good news is that my library has it. The bad news, there are already several holds ahead of me. Oh well. I’ll be sure to get to it as soon as I can 🙂 Thanks for sharing. If you hadn’t felt inspired to review, I would have missed out.
I didn’t mention it in the review but I love the poster for this film. I looked at it several times before noticing that they were walking on a guitar. I had one of those ‘oh, duh!’ moments when I noticed.
I was also really impressed with the wardrobe and color choices for the film. It had an autumnal feel to it. Although I am in the midst of spring fever my favorite season is the fall and I love that time of year where it is just crisp enough outside that you have to wear a jacket, a scarf, etc. I felt so comfy and cozy watching them in the clothes they wore for the film.
I bought it when one of our local “Hollywood Videos” stores closed. 2 reasons, first I liked the song that one the acad.award, second I was also floored when Jon Stewart brought her back. I loved it! I too, will be buying the soundtrack.
I can’t believe I actually saw a movie before I read Carl’s review. Sorry about spelling of “won”. duh!
I really enjoyed this movie as well. Nice review.
Cynthia: I really fell by the wayside with this one by not seeing it in the theatre. Not sure what I was thinking. I feel guilty about the $20 I didn’t contribute to the film’s gross!!! 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it.
Neth: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it as well.
Whoa, I thought that was Hugh Laurie on the cover for a moment. I almost lost control of my bladder. Even though it’s not, I still wanna see the flick. 🙂
There were things about his expressions that reminded me of Hugh Laurie and of John Cleese, oddly enough.
It’s the first time I heard of this movie, and it sounds like something I’d definitely love. Thanks Carl! You always find the coolest stuff 😀
Thank Jeff. He’s the one who found this at a steal of a price ($8.99 I believe) and thus insured that we would be watching it asap. I can only take credit for enjoying this one, not for finding it. 🙂
I’ve been dying to see this movie and now I want to see it even more. I had heard of it, but didn’t know that much about it until the Oscars. Then I saw their performance of “Falling Slowly” which was amazing and knew that I had to see it and get the soundtrack. Beautiful stuff. I have it on my Netflix, but it sounds like I should move it up!
You should Chris!
I am excited to announce that the two leads for this film are touring the U.S. and my wife, daughter and I are going to go see them on Monday May 5th! I cannot wait!
Awesome!! I have to check out the dates to see if they’ll be anywhere around here.
On ticketmaster you have to look for them under the name The Swell Season. Here’s a link to their U.S. tour dates:
http://www.theframes.ie/v4/news/dates-theswellseason.php
i’m so happy that this movie, thanks to the winning song, is given so much publicity.
I live in Dublin and I went to see it twice last year in the cinema. The second time was with my mum who was visiting me.She doesn’t really have much english but she completely loved it anyway.The power of music!
Not only the film feels so real and the music is so overwhelmingly beautiful, but to me it felt also even more real because it’s set in the town where I live.
even before the soundtrack was out I bought an album called “the swell season” which has most of the songs in the movie, and I think some extra songs, that were played in their tours.
SPOILERS!!!
And isn’t it sweet to think that even if in the films the two of them don’t get together in the end, in real life they are in love?
I thought of you the other day Valentina when I was watching this since I knew that is where you live. It is a beautiful film and I am so sorry that I didn’t make the effort to catch in when it was in the theater. I am glad I am going to be able to make up for missing hearing that music in a movie theatre by being able to hear them in concert in a music theatre in May.
And yes, that is sweet.
And now you have a chance to educate me. Is ‘fair play’ a pretty common phrase in Dublin and, from your own personal point of view, does the word ‘fuck’ have the same “ooo, I can’t believe you just said that” power there as it does here in the U.S. or is it just another throwaway word over there?
I went on the website for the dates. I am confused???????
How hilarious Cynthia. It wasn’t like that last night. According to the site now we all have to travel back in time to January 1, 1970 to see them. I suggest going to Ticketmaster and typing in The Swell Season (which is the name they are touring under) and it will give you tour dates.
Or I could just do this:
Wed, 04/23/08
07:30 PM Orpheum Theatre Phoenix, AZ
Sat, 04/26/08
08:30 PM Paramount Theatre-Oakland Oakland, CA
Mon, 04/28/08
08:00 PM Keller Auditorium Portland, OR
Wed, 04/30/08
07:30 PM Moore Theatre Seattle, WA
Sat, 05/03/08
08:00 PM Ellie Caulkins Opera House Denver, CO
Mon, 05/05/08
08:00 PM Uptown Theater Kansas City, MO
Tue, 05/06/08
08:00 PM The Pageant St Louis, MO
Wed, 05/07/08
08:00 PM Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, MN
Tue, 05/13/08
08:00 PM Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre ATLANTA, GA
Thu, 05/15/08
08:00 PM Progress Energy Center Meymandi Concert Hall Raleigh, NC
Sat, 05/17/08
08:00 PM Meyerhoff Symphony Hall Baltimore, MD
Mon, 05/19/08
08:00 PM Radio City Music Hall New York, NY
Tue, 05/20/08
08:00 PM Tower Theatre Upper Darby, PA
Sun, 06/15/08
08:00 PM The Chicago Theatre Chicago, IL
Tue, 06/17/08
08:00 PM The Chicago Theatre Chicago, IL
Wed, 06/18/08
08:00 PM The Chicago Theatre Chicago, IL
Be sure and check out Glen and Marketa’s first collaboration, the cd “The Swell Season,” it’s every bit as magical as the soundtrack. My wife and I had the good fortune to see the couple play in Austin back in November, it was one of the best shows I’ve seen in the past few years – you and your family are in for a special time!
I plan on buying it at the show, Ken as I’m sure they’ll be selling it there and it will be kind of fun to do so. I’m glad to hear that your experience of their show was a good one, makes me even more excited to see it.
Thanks, Carl. I just thought I was an idiot and did something wrong. The 5/20 show is a possibility,only an hour away.
I’m so glad I’m finally was able to see this film recently. It was great and the music was even better. I’m so stoked your going to go see them live in May, Carl! I’m sure it will make a wonderful family memory.