'Once'

I just finished watching Once with my parents and brother and, in short, I absolutely loved it.

As I was being delighted by the film's 85 minutes, however, I asked myself a question--why in the hell did it take me so long to watch this?!?

The film is concerned with a guy, played by Irish musician Glen Hansard, and his week-long friendship with a Czech immigrant (girl), played by fellow musician and current Hansard girlfriend Markéta Inglová. The two meet on the street (Hansard plays a busker), and what follows is a journey into the character's pasts, passions, and futures--all culminating in one of the more happy, satisfying endings I've seen in sometime.

With Once, it's all about the simplicity. The camera-movements, the long-takes, the lovely, natural lighting, this is a film where all the pieces fell into place. As non-actors, the casual gestures and mannerisms of Hansard and Inglová are perfect for the sweet, authentic tone of the film. Had the film's original star--actor Cillian Murphy--stayed in this project, it would not have had half the heart and soul it does, which is do in no small part to the AMAZING music.

Entering this film, I had no idea who Hansard or his band "The Frames" were, and in watching Once, I was completely mesmerized by the emotionally wrenching, incredibly personal songs Hansard plays, alternating between a folk blues shout in his solo numbers and more contained duets with Inglová.

I kid you not, I felt a lump in my throat during their performance of "Falling Slowly," the film that won the 2008 Academy Award for Best Original Song. It is moments like that performance that separate this film from any of the multi-zillion dollar, emotionless musicals of the current day, from Chicago to Dreamgirls. It doesn't matter that Once was shot with a $135,000 budget in 17 days (try seeing Hollywood pull that off)--what matters is its authenticity, its heart, its genuine concern for its characters and its respect for their feelings. Once makes any American film seem hollow by comparison.

I've gotten to the main core of the film, but along with the emotional resonance, see the film simply for the music, as it celebrates the universal communication music gives us all. In one beautiful sequence, Hansard is riding in a bus with Inglová, and the topic develops of Hansard's ex-girlfriend, a source of inspiration for many of Hansard's songs. Though originally skeptical of Inglová's questioning, Hansard does indeed tell her what happened...through song. Notice, now, what a beautiful observation this is by Director John Carney! We all have emotions, we all have interpretations, but sometimes, just certain times, the only way we can express those emotions is through our art, whether it be film, or painting, or, in this case, music.

So...see the fucking film!