Movie Review: Once
“I don’t know you
But I want you
All the more for that”
So begins “Falling Slowly,” the song that bookends John Carney’s Once, and also supplies this remarkable and sublime movie with its thematic framework. Starring Glen Hansard, better known as the lead singer for the Irish indie-rock band The Frames, and his real life collaborator Marketa Irglova, Once is a thoroughly enjoyable, yet remarkably restrained look at the lives of two musicians living and coping in Dublin. Hansard plays an unnamed (the production notes list him simply as “Guy”) street musician, or “busker,” who alternates between working in his father’s vacuum repair shop and playing music on the streets of Dublin. Irglova plays an unnamed woman (”Girl”) who approaches him during a nighttime performance and forms a connection based in part by her love for music. She’s a classically trained pianist who has immigrated from the Czech Republic, but is working multiple jobs trying to support herself and her family. The two become close friends and musical collaborators.
Once is a difficult movie to categorize. Director John Carney describes it as a “modern musical,” but it’s not a musical in any traditional sense. The music plays a central role in the movie, but it’s less intrusive than many of the soundtracks that find their way into mainstream movies. Nor can it correctly be referred to as a romantic comedy, though it certainly has romantic and comedic elements. Instead, the movie manages to avoid almost all of the clichés found in most movies as it follows a key moment in time for the lives of the characters, a couple of bohemian musicians in search of friendship and redemption.
The soundtrack draws heavily from Hansard and Irglova’s collaborative album “The Swell Season,” which was produced just before the movie. (A few Frames songs also show up, as well as some music written specifically for the film.) 
Although neither Hansard nor Irglova are experienced actors (Hansard has previously appeared in only one movie, Alan Parker’s 1991 film, The Commitments) both are very much performers, and the movie sustains itself on their charisma. In fact, it’s difficult to believe the movie wasn’t tailor-made as a vehicle for the two stars. (Hansard was coaxed into making the movie when Cillian Murphy—best known for playing Scarecrow in Batman Begins—backed out of the project. Hansard reluctantly agreed to help his friend out by starring alongside Irglova.)
The cinematography for the most part is very stark. Clearly, the movie was made on a budget, using lots of handheld camera work and very little movie studio lighting. Yet, that doesn’t detract, but actually adds to the its charm. The movie has a naturalistic, fly-on-the-wall feel that helps create the illusion that the audience is being allowed to peek in on the lives of a couple of compelling personalities. It also helps that both actors, while attractive, aren’t burdened with Hollywood looks. You never disbelieve for a minute that the characters you are seeing are actual people (talented, to be sure, but actual people just the same). Reflecting on the movie afterwards, you realize that these non-actors have done a hell of an acting job.
Not much can really be said about the plot without summarizing the entire movie—this is a movie that is truly character-driven and music-driven. The ending is satisfying, without tying everything up in a tidy package. It’s a movie that stays with you as much as the music does. And the music, it must be said, is fantastic. (Two of the songs from the soundtrack, “Falling Slowly” and “When Your Mind’s Made Up” are on the radio.blog. Because the music is so central to enjoyment of the movie, I suggest you give them a listen before deciding whether to see Once.) If there’s any justice in the world, this movie will be nominated for and win a “Best Song” Academy Award, a category traditionally filled with the latest Disney power ballads).
Once is rated R for language and opens this week in limited release.
I was also fortunate to participate in an interview with John Carney, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova in Dallas. I’ll post an edited audio transcript of the interview, as well as pictures and a lo-fi recording of “Falling Slowly” in a future post.
My movie review for “Once” is up on the main page. It’s worth noting that this movie currently has a 100% rating from Rotten Tomatoes. So I’m not the only one who likes it.
It also won an audience prize at Sundance.
Comment by BTD Greg — May 17, 2007 @ 8:04 am
Can’t wait for the interview. It sounds like a great movie -=- and a great soundtrack.
Comment by Supergenius — May 17, 2007 @ 8:35 am
Thanks for the review. I hope this plays here. Do you know how widely it will be distributed?
Comment by Tom — May 17, 2007 @ 8:37 am
Tom, no idea. Where are you? Here in Dallas, it’s opening in the Dallas Angelika (a well-known art house chain) this week, and then also at the suburban Plano location next week.
Based on the buzz it’s getting, I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets a little wider release, assuming it does well at the art house theaters.
Comment by BTD Greg — May 17, 2007 @ 8:43 am
I missed the LA screening this week. Super bummed. Thanks for the great review, Greg! Can’t wait to read the interview.
Comment by Susan M — May 17, 2007 @ 8:44 am
I’m in Baltimore. We usually get semi-widely distributed stuff in the art house, but not always the limited release stuff. If Dallas is getting it, we should have a good chance.
Comment by Tom — May 17, 2007 @ 9:02 am
Interestingly, Once grossed only $0.1M in it’s opening weekend, which would be horrible for a mainstream movie. But if you look at it more closely, it had the highest per theater average of any movie out at the moment, including Shrek 3. So that means it isn’t in that many theaters, but that it’s doing very, very well in ever theater where it’s playing.
I expect it to keep doing well as it spreads into a wider release. This could be the sleeper hit of the summer as people scramble for alternatives to disappointing blockbuster sequels (i.e., Spidey/Shrek/Pirates the Third).
I’d be surprised if this doesn’t get a Baltimore release within the next few weeks, Tom.
Comment by BTD Greg — May 22, 2007 @ 1:07 pm
That’s cool, Greg. Still haven’t seen it.
Comment by Susan M — May 22, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
[...] I was fortunate to sit down with John Carney, the writer and director of the movie Once, as well as with the stars, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. My review of the movie can be found here. The interview took place in a suite in the Adolphus Hotel in downtown Dallas, Texas, on May 11, 2007. Two other interviewers were also present. Carney, Hansard and Irglova were all very gracious, down to earth and even self-effacing. At the end of the interview, Glen and Marketa agreed to sing us a song, with Glen playing along on his battered acoustic guitar. The song, recorded in purely lo-fi bootleg quality, can be heard on the sidebar radio.blog, along with an edited audio transcript of the interview. (If you’re sure you’re going to see the movie, you may want to wait until after you do to listen because the interview does contain mild spoilers. Also, due to some brief profanity, the audio may not be appropriate for some workplaces.) Part one of the interview starts somewhat abruptly with Hansard discussing the impetus for the songs in the movie, some of which came out of a collaboration with Irglova on an album called The Swell Season. Carney had heard the songs and wanted to use them in the movie, even before Irglova and Hansard were cast. Hansard also discusses recording the music for the movie, and Carney talks about the collaboration and process of creating the movie. Irglova relates her thoughts about acting for the first time. Finally, Carney shares some of his experiences securing funding for his projects, and Hansard tells about how his mother financially supported his early career by lying to the loan officer at her bank. [...]
Pingback by Kulturblog » Once - Interview with John Carney, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova — May 26, 2007 @ 8:26 am
saw movie today,, overcast dublin streets were depressing,not to mention every other word was the “F” word
of course hansard would be called in dublin terms a “gurrier” (lower class) he acted simple in the movie ,as did she , tho it was kind of nice the innoncence they exuded, thought she ruined it using the F word and sounded a little ridiculous when she spoke with a dublin accent at times.
LOved the music and singing mostly ,but ending was disappointing and too abrupt.
Comment by barbara — June 6, 2007 @ 9:01 pm
barbara, the f-word does get used a lot in this movie. If you’re sensitive to this sort of thing, it’s probably not the movie for you. (This seems to be the sole basis for the movie’s R-rating.) For me personally, somehow the f-word doesn’t sound as harsh (charming, almost) when it’s said with an Irish accent. Also, I don’t think the language used was any different from how these characters would have naturally spoken.
Also, having met Marketa Irglova, I think her accent in the movie is pretty much how she speaks in real life. It’s an interesting mix of Eastern European and Irish.
Comment by BTD Greg — June 7, 2007 @ 7:16 am
Saw the movie last night and loved it. My friend came home and purchased the album online immediately. We’re now official Hansard Heads. For me, the fresh approach to telling a simple story of two lonely souls finding companionship in the thing they share a passion for was sweet and inspiring. Nothing like the hit-you-over-the-head Hollywood stuff. I hope to listen to more of the Frames over the comiing months.
Comment by Paulette Livers — July 15, 2007 @ 12:18 pm
[...] Hansard and the incomparable Markéta Irglová, playing for the most part their music from the film Once. It’s an hour and a half long concert that you can download to your ipod or listen to [...]
Pingback by Kulturblog » The Swell Season, Live — August 2, 2007 @ 11:24 am