Sunday, July 13, 2014

Begin Again - Movie Review

Begin Again (R) 104 mins B-
Once but not Twice

Staring: Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine, Hailee Steinfeld, James Corden, Cee Lo Green and Mos Def

Begin Again, formerly titled Can a Song Save Your Life? (which was a better title), is from director John Carney.  Carney is best known for his excellent 2007 film, Once.  But, do not go into this film expecting the same excellence from Begin Again.  This latest musical voyage from Carney is respectable and Keira Knightley is endlessly adorable.  However, it feels a little contrived and too pristine.  Mark Ruffalo, who was once my favorite actor on the planet, is serviceable here.  Catherine Keener, let's just say that she makes every film she is in better.   

I did love the concept of making an organic, outdoor album that is recorded in different locations. I also liked the way the film ended- yes it eventually won me over in the end and it even evoked a little emotion from moi. But, ultimately that emotion didn't last, the film is already evaporating from my memory. Begin Again is a nice way to escape the summer heat for a couple hours... just don't expect it to rock your world.

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