Movie with Abe: Begin Again

Begin Again
Directed by John Carney
Released June 27, 2014

A spontaneous trip to a movie theatre for the first time in a few months during a busy summer season presented a few options. A director’s resume is a major reason that I would opt for one film over another, and therefore this film, from “Once” director John Carney, was a natural choice. A return to the world of music at its face value presented in an honest and soulful fashion proves to be extremely productive for Carney, who penned and directed a film that’s much more expansive and aware of its surroundings than “Once” but still manages to capture the same spirit of and love for music.

“Begin Again” begins almost too simplistically and familiarly, introducing Gretta (Keira Knightley) as a shy woman with obvious musical talent timid at the idea of performing in front of others at a bar and expectedly disappointed with the lack of reaction from her audience after her friend forces her to come up and sing a song. One response, however, far outweighs everything else, and that comes from the eccentric Dan (Mark Ruffalo), a music producer undone by his inability to appreciate or tolerate modernity. The two form an almost instant bond and begin recording an album au naturale, using New York City as their soundstage and set.

That ordinary start doesn’t necessarily turn into anything extraordinary, but it does create an inviting and enjoyable environment in which to watch these two characters, burdened by a failed relationship and a poor connection with his daughter, respectively, grow and overcome their weaknesses. The music isn’t magical but instead serves to subtly draw out their true passions, allowing them to comprehend just what they have and to embrace their situations fully and optimistically.

Knightley and Ruffalo are both actors who have gotten much work recently, and this ranks as one of their most positive role selections. Knightley is charming and actually quite a musical talent. Ruffalo draws upon the insatiable rabid energy he displayed in “Infinitely Polar Bear” to create another appealing nut. Hailee Steinfeld and James Corden stand out in the supporting cast as Dan’s daughter and Gretta’s best friend, respectively, both contributing to a movie that’s entertaining and fun to be a part of, pleasantly enthralling and a great example of how being groundbreaking or original isn’t always necessary when a strong, well-executed story will do just fine.

B+

Tuesday’s Top Trailer: Begin Again

Welcome back to a weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Tuesday's Top Trailer. One of my favorite parts about going to see movies is the series of trailers that airs beforehand and, more often than not, the trailer is far better than the actual film. Each week, I'll be sharing a trailer I've recently seen. Please chime in with comments on what you think of the trailer and how you think the movie is going to be.

Begin Again – Opening July 4, 2014

I saw the poster for this film last week after I had already selected the trailer that I was going to write about, and a quick visit to IMDB put it front and center for me this week. Since his breakout hit “Once” in 2007, director John Carney has made two small Irish films, and he’s back with a bigger American film that looks like a blast. Had I watched the trailer without knowing that Carney was its writer and director, I would have presumed that it was something entirely different, at least for its first half, mainly because of the insertion of “Ex” into each of the main characters’ classifications which seems much more appropriate for blockbusters and big studio films. Yet the second half of the trailer reveals a sweeter, more artsy side to the film, which involves two people making music together and bonding that way. This looks like a very enjoyable ride due to its plot alone, but it’s also worth noting the talent involved. I loved seeing Mark Ruffalo play a crazy, endearing guy in “Infinitely Polar Bear” at Sundance, and this looks like the perfect follow-up (though this one may actually have come first). Keira Knightley has done some great things recently, and this is a new arena for which she seems well-suited. Hailee Steinfeld continues to choose strong roles in her days as a young actress, and it’s nice to see a good mix of actual actors like Catherine Keener and real-life musicians like CeeLo Green and Adam Levine in the supporting cast, as well as Mos Def, who straddles that line. A summer release seems perfect for this movie, which embraces the (city) outdoors and should hopefully prove to be a winning and magnetic experience.