Film has music at its heart, writes Christine Powley.
Director: John Carney
Cast: Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine, James Corden, Hailee Steinfeld, Mos Def, Catherine Keener, CeeLo Green, Rob Morrow
Rating: (M)
5 stars out of 5
Director John Carney had success with Once, a film about the struggle of two street musicians to make a record that is so beloved it has been made into a Broadway musical.
On the face of it, Begin Again (Rialto) looks like a rerun of Once with glossier leads, but it quickly establishes itself as its own, dare I say it, better movie.
Dan (Mark Ruffalo) formed his own label in the 1990s and was successful finding and producing new artists but his luck has been out for years.
Gretta (Keira Knightley) was happy writing songs for and with her boyfriend Dave (Adam Levine) without worrying about making hits but Dave wanted to make a living from it and got a song placed in a film.
Next thing, they are in New York with Dave's record label pressing him to make a record with more songs just like the one in the movie.
Gretta is thrilled for Dave and then not so thrilled, when he dumps her for life on the road and the call of the groupie.
Dan hears Gretta singing at an open mike night and he gets her music. He wants to produce her, she is not sure but then she decides that she might as well go along with this crazy guy, it's not as if she has anything better to do.
As Gretta and Don work together on the record, Gretta starts to unravel what has gone wrong in Dan's life while at the same time the music helps her come to terms with what happened between her and Dave.
Best thing: The perfect way it resolves itself.
Worst thing: Keira Knightley can be an annoying screen presence so it takes a while for us to warm to Gretta but once you do, you are captivated.
See it with: A musical friend as this film has music in its every pore.
