Begin Again

 

When I saw the ads for Begin Again months ago, the movie was promoted as a charming movie about music in the vein of Once which I love a lot. For some reasons, I missed the movie and so I was pleasantly surprised to find it in one of the movies that are available on Singapore Airlines movie trove on my flight from Adelaide.

Begin Again is about Dave Kohl (Adam Levine) and Greta James (Keira Knightley) – a pair of musicians trying to make it in New York. Greta is happy supporting Dave – being the songwriter and keeping her ideal of producing authentic songs that are untainted by commercialism and money. When Dave ends up having an affair with one of the recording staff, Greta leaves the relationship and reassess what she wants everything that she wants – especially when a failed and drunken music producer, Dan Mulligan (Mark Ruffalo) hears her sing and wants to produce her album.

Whilst the story may not offer something new – John Carney – also the director behind Once, somehow manages again to infuse  tonnes of charm, humour and great music into the movie. It’s as if you were part of the crew and that you feel all of the feelings and sensations that the characters are having. The songs are top-notch and I was pleasantly surprised that Keira Knightley is such a good singer!

Begin Again is definitely one of the best movies that I have seen this year – just the way I like it, low-key, with loads of heart and charm and seasoned with great music (you have to listen to Lost Stars – the main song of the movie). What’s not to like? I guess despite the years that are shaping me slowly into a jaded cynic, I am still a hopeless romantic after all.

 

 

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