Once
- Thread starter John Duncan
- Start date
Sorry for the delay. C&C always welcome.
"Ne...Miluju Tebe..."*
I have a confession to make: I love films with songs in them. Especially at the end. They make me cry. Whether they be full blown musicals, or just "Up Where We Belong" at the end of An Officer And A Gentleman, I'm a sucker for 'em. The first record I was ever given was the "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" soundtrack for heaven's sake, and you should see me blub when Jennifer Grey gives Patrick Swayze a little nod and they finally do The Lift.
Anyway, if one film in recent years was ever guaranteed to get the Orson Bottom Lip a-trembling, it's writer-director John Carney's Once. Made for £100,000 in 17 days, it tells of an unnamed Guy (Glen Hansard, the Frames frontman whose sole other film credit is as the guitarist in The Commitments), a hard-up busker and part time vacuum cleaner repairman, whose angsty wailing on the streets of Dublin draws the attention of Girl (debutante Marketa Irglova), a waif-like immigrant flower seller trying to make ends meet for her young daughter. By happy coincidence, not only is Girl a musician too, but her hoover needs fixing. It's clear Girl is hitting on Guy, but he's oblivious, blinded by a lost love who's moved to London. Just to make the point, when Girl takes him to the local music shop where the owner lets her play the display models, he asks her to join in on a love song that's clearly not for her.
Though their romance is achingly platonic, musically they complete each other, and they borrow money to make a demo with a group of fellow buskers as session men ("Is it Lizzy? We only do Lizzy"). And that's pretty much it. Sounds simple really, doesn't it?
And it is. It's perhaps the simplest film I've seen in a long time - there's no twist (apart from the convention-defying ending), there are no Guy Wins Girl/Guy Loses Girl/Guy Wins Girl Back hoops to jump through, there's not even a box-office-friendly snog. But what there is is music - it's a far cry from Moulin Rouge, but unlike that, and pretty much any other musical you care to mention, the songs belong. No-one sings here unless they're supposed to, unless they would in real life. And what songs they are - their first fumbling, tentative rendition of Falling Slowly was an Oscar winner, and probably the best one for twenty years. So that's it - not much of a plot, no money, no technical pyrotechnics to speak of, and no happy ending (¸Hollywood). But it does have a song called Broken-Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy in it, and for that it deserves to be seen. At least once.
*"We Do The Shake and Vac"
"Ne...Miluju Tebe..."*
I have a confession to make: I love films with songs in them. Especially at the end. They make me cry. Whether they be full blown musicals, or just "Up Where We Belong" at the end of An Officer And A Gentleman, I'm a sucker for 'em. The first record I was ever given was the "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" soundtrack for heaven's sake, and you should see me blub when Jennifer Grey gives Patrick Swayze a little nod and they finally do The Lift.
Anyway, if one film in recent years was ever guaranteed to get the Orson Bottom Lip a-trembling, it's writer-director John Carney's Once. Made for £100,000 in 17 days, it tells of an unnamed Guy (Glen Hansard, the Frames frontman whose sole other film credit is as the guitarist in The Commitments), a hard-up busker and part time vacuum cleaner repairman, whose angsty wailing on the streets of Dublin draws the attention of Girl (debutante Marketa Irglova), a waif-like immigrant flower seller trying to make ends meet for her young daughter. By happy coincidence, not only is Girl a musician too, but her hoover needs fixing. It's clear Girl is hitting on Guy, but he's oblivious, blinded by a lost love who's moved to London. Just to make the point, when Girl takes him to the local music shop where the owner lets her play the display models, he asks her to join in on a love song that's clearly not for her.
Though their romance is achingly platonic, musically they complete each other, and they borrow money to make a demo with a group of fellow buskers as session men ("Is it Lizzy? We only do Lizzy"). And that's pretty much it. Sounds simple really, doesn't it?
And it is. It's perhaps the simplest film I've seen in a long time - there's no twist (apart from the convention-defying ending), there are no Guy Wins Girl/Guy Loses Girl/Guy Wins Girl Back hoops to jump through, there's not even a box-office-friendly snog. But what there is is music - it's a far cry from Moulin Rouge, but unlike that, and pretty much any other musical you care to mention, the songs belong. No-one sings here unless they're supposed to, unless they would in real life. And what songs they are - their first fumbling, tentative rendition of Falling Slowly was an Oscar winner, and probably the best one for twenty years. So that's it - not much of a plot, no money, no technical pyrotechnics to speak of, and no happy ending (¸Hollywood). But it does have a song called Broken-Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy in it, and for that it deserves to be seen. At least once.
*"We Do The Shake and Vac"
Charlie Jefferson
Well-known member
A loving and lovely review: it makes me want to see the film.
Thanks for the impassioned reminder. I'd forgotten I'd not seen it.
Thanks for the impassioned reminder. I'd forgotten I'd not seen it.
JoelSim:
I may just have a watch of that JD
I won't buy it on DVD as I shall just watch it the onceÿ
ÿ
Is worthwhile, though may be worth youtubing "Falling Slowly" first - if that doesn't grab you, it'll lose a couple of stars....
And I've stopped buying films (apart from kids' ones) since I joined Blockbuster's mail order service, which was where I got this one from.
I may just have a watch of that JD
I won't buy it on DVD as I shall just watch it the onceÿ
ÿ
Is worthwhile, though may be worth youtubing "Falling Slowly" first - if that doesn't grab you, it'll lose a couple of stars....
And I've stopped buying films (apart from kids' ones) since I joined Blockbuster's mail order service, which was where I got this one from.
Charlie Jefferson:A loving and lovely review: it makes me want to see the film.
Thanks for the impassioned reminder. I'd forgotten I'd not seen it.
Thanks Charlie, appreciate it.
Thanks for the impassioned reminder. I'd forgotten I'd not seen it.
Thanks Charlie, appreciate it.
I'm a member of Lovefilm...and I've had Michael Clayton for about 3 months now and not watched it.
They also sent me a mailer this week, as if I wasn't a member offering free films up to the value of £35 'if' I joined, oh and there were two mailers in the mailer too. Twats.
ÿ
They also sent me a mailer this week, as if I wasn't a member offering free films up to the value of £35 'if' I joined, oh and there were two mailers in the mailer too. Twats.
ÿ
You should, it's brilliant
I manage three a week or so, with my two hours on a train every day - this week, Three Colours Red, White and Blue.
I manage three a week or so, with my two hours on a train every day - this week, Three Colours Red, White and Blue.
John. I am! That's the point. Mind you I've seen Finding Nemo a few times recently and Happy Feet. Money well spent.
Just out of interest I drove for an hour today to pick up A32/P35 combo with the young 'un (17 months), P35 not working. Boy brilliant and recognised by shop owner as so...a future hifi buff methinks
Mind you I'm going to have to keep him away from this PC nonsense.
rubbish that I wasn't able to upgrade, mind, and now have more notes in my wallet than Ashley Cole
And luckily enough hadn't mentioned it to the missus. Was going to surprise her (if you know what I mean)
ÿ
Just out of interest I drove for an hour today to pick up A32/P35 combo with the young 'un (17 months), P35 not working. Boy brilliant and recognised by shop owner as so...a future hifi buff methinks
Mind you I'm going to have to keep him away from this PC nonsense.
rubbish that I wasn't able to upgrade, mind, and now have more notes in my wallet than Ashley Cole
And luckily enough hadn't mentioned it to the missus. Was going to surprise her (if you know what I mean)
ÿ
Alec
Well-known member
why exactly do they call it the carrot test?
and why are there no blonde priests?
an enquiring "mind" wants to know...
and why are there no blonde priests?
an enquiring "mind" wants to know...
Alec
Well-known member
aarw:Car test, not carrot test....test it in the car through 'normal' speakers, not studio ones.
Ah. Thanks.
Like i said - "mind". ill just go clean my "ears" out.
Ah. Thanks.
Like i said - "mind". ill just go clean my "ears" out.
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