Begin Again
Starring: Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine, James Corden
Director: John Carney
Rating: 4/5
John Carney brought us the fantastic Once back in 2007, and now he returns to the music/drama with Begin Again.
And it is a welcome return to this genre for Carney, as Begin Again is a movie that I have been looking forward to for some time.
I have to say, it doesn't disappoint and is a very welcome break from all of the special effect laden blockbusters that have been hitting the big screen of late.
The movie follows singer/songwriter Gretta (Knightley) who splits from her boyfriend when he lands a major record deal. A chance meeting with a disgraced record-label exec Dan (Ruffalo) sees her set out on her own musical journey.
Together, Gretta and Dan begin recording album around New York City - which creates in interesting portrait of the city.
From start to finish, Begin Again has a real heart and soul to it: I suppose it is a fairytale of getting to live your dreams in a way.
This is an incredibly brave performance from Knightley as she shows off her singing and guitar skills. She really is an actress that will give anything a go, and she has quite clearly prepared well for this role.
Her partnership with Mark Ruffalo is a terrific one: they are perhaps not a pair of actors that you would immediately think of putting together.
Knightley and Ruffalo really to make a terribly engaging couple, as they set out on this music journey together, as they both try to turn around their fortunes.
These two characters could have so easily fallen into cliché, and yet in the hand of Knightley and Ruffalo, they are fun and charming: you really can't help but root for them to succeed.
I know Carney has tackled this kind of story before with Once, but that doesn’t stop Begin Again being a terrific watch.
Ok, so it doesn't reinvent the wheel, but is a movie that will capture your heart and charm you. Seriously, what more could you want from a summer film?
Begin Again is a love story that really will leave a smile on your face, as if shows off the healing power of music. This is a little gem of a film that is a breath of fresh air for this time of year.
Begin Again is out now.