Begin Again

Begin Again isn't really a very good film. It's corny, overly sentimental, and doesn't have a shred of authenticity. But I kind of liked it, mostly on the charm from the performers and the "let's put on a show" spirit,

Written and directed by John Carney, who also made Once (he's not much for fancy titles), Begin Again is also about musicians. Mark Ruffalo plays a famous record producer and A&R man for a label. He's a movie type--the dissolute genius--and he plays it to the hilt, smoking, drinking, and not using a planner. He hasn't signed a hit band in years, and as the film opens he gets fired by his partner.

Carney so overdoes the next sequence, which shows Ruffalo in his depths of despair, even throwing in the way overused cliche of his car not starting.

But Ruffalo is offered redemption when, in need of a drink, he ducks into a club having an open-mic night. Keira Knightley is coaxed onto the stage by her friend (James Corden) and sings a song to little applause. But Ruffalo loves it, and in a nice scene imagines how he would arrange it, adding musicians. In his cups, he offers to help her make an album.

Knightley has her own story. She came to New York as the girlfriend of a singer on the rise (Adam Levine) and while she has her own talent, she ends up getting coffee. Levine breaks up with her, leaving her alone in the city. It is that night that she takes to the stage.

The rest of the film is the two making the album, with the help of many, including Cee Lo Green as an artist that Ruffalo got started. Knightley has to deal with her issues, and Ruffalo with his, including his relationship with his aloof daughter (Hailee Steinfeld). I expected more conflict to crop up, but Carney seems to like his characters too much, and it's all very warm and fuzzy. When they are recording in an alley, Ruffalo tries to get some kids to be quiet, and instead lets them sing back up. And wouldn't you know that Steinfeld, who everyone says is a terrible guitar player, has hidden talent?

But the movie made me feel good. Knightley sings for herself, and has a nice voice. And the songs are pretty good, including "Lost Stars," which was nominated for an Oscar.

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