June 6, 2007 -- “Once” is a movie about musicians which is being touted at the greatest musical of its era, or generation, or whatever. It is pretty good, and it has a lot going for it, but it isn't the greatest thing since “Singin' in the Rain,” or “Cabaret.” I think the main thing that is going to determine how much you like this film is the music. The music is good, but isn't great. All the musical numbers, with a couple of exceptions, sound the same, only the lyrics are different. There is really nothing that jumps off the screen at you, like, for instance Liza Minelli singing “New York, New York,” or “Cabaret” or Joel Grey singing “Money” in “Cabaret,” or Jennifer Bynum singing “If He Changed My Name,” in “Hustle and Flow,” or that show-stopping number by Jennifer Hudson in “Dreamgirls,” or Barbara Streisand singing anything from any movie. Also, this film looks like it was shot with a zero budget on available light only. Some scenes are really dark.

Okay, enough quibbling. Here is what it does right. Unlike most recent musicals, like “Chicago” and “Moulin Rouge” the actors cast in this film are real musicians, real singer-songwriters who have actually collaborated on an album together. They've got real talent, and that gives the film some real authenticity. This is also a drawback, however. It means the casting was done with more of an ear for the music than an eye for the acting. Fortunately, the principle actors, Glen Hansard (of “The Commitments”) and Markéta Irglová, both do a fine job of acting in the film.

Another drawback of this strategy is that by relying on only these two musicians to provide the bulk of the music for the film, then the music is only as good as they are. No matter how much some people might like this film, they can't possibly believe that Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová are even close to being the best two songwriters in the world, even among their own generation. There is one lone Van Morrison song in the film, “And The Healing Has Begun.” There is also a waltz composed by Hugh Drumm/Adam Lynch, and a piano piece by Mendelssohn, but most of the rest of the music is written by Hansard and Irglová specifically for this movie (there is a more complete list below). The music is fine, but if we are to believe the hype about this movie, then this is the best music of a generation. I would hope this generation, which ever one is being discussed, has produced better music than this. Most of the songs are the same. They start out gentle and quiet. Rising and falling to a slow beat, they build to an ear-shattering, high-pitched shriek which had me covering my ears. (Update note: I watched this film again recently, on DVD, and the sound quality was much better than it was in the theater where I first saw it. Evidently the sound system at the theater, the Mayan Theater in Denver, to be precise, either has a bad sound system, or had the volume set too loud, leading to ear-shattering shrieks. Listening to the songs through my own stereo system at home was much more pleasant.)

Hansard plays a Dublin street musician who plays for tips. He meets a pretty girl, Irglová, who also happens to be a musician and they end up collaborating on a CD. They also fall in love. Most of this is done through songs. The story is very bittersweet and it is well-written. It is somewhat unconventional, and there are some plot developments that don't quite make sense, but overall, it is a very touching story. This is a story about two people who come together under very unusual circumstances. They are both very sweet and nice and innocent in their own way. They are both so interesting and nice that I wanted to know what happens to them next. That is a sign of a good film. This film rates a B.

Here is a list of songs from the film in addition to those mentioned above: “Say it to Me Now,” by Glen Hansard, “All the Way Down,” by Hansard, “Falling Slowly,” by Hansard and Markéta Irglová, “Leave,” by Hansard, “If You Want Me,” by Markéta Irglová, “Lies,” by Hansard and Markéta Irglová, “Whiskey in the Jar” (traditional), “Gold,” by Fergus O'Farrell, “Trying to Pull Myself Away,” by Hansard, “When Your Mind’s Made Up,” by Hansard, “Fallen From the Sky,” by Hansard, “The Hill,” by Markéta Irglová, “Once,” by Hansard. Hansard's recordings are carried by Anti (see the link below), a division of Epitaph. Hansard is a member of the successful Irish band The Frames. Their best-selling album is the live CD, “Set List.” In March of 2006, Hansard and Markéta Irglová released an album, “Swell Season,” and they also toured together, especially on late night talk shows, while promoting their movie. The writer and director of “Once,” John Carney, was once a bass player for The Frames.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in video and/or DVD format, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. Click here for more information on The Frames. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2007 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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