Begin Again (2013)

Most people will come for this film because of its oddly-paired starring duo, Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo, or perhaps because they saw Once (the writer-director John Carney’s Dublin set musical hit) and thought that Carney could once again work his magic. I, personally, entered the film with neither option spurring me onwards and colouring my views. I’m not an avid fan of either actor and, though I’ve certainly heard of Once and read the rave reviews that accompanied its release, I haven’t actually seen the film. I think that’s the best way, as a viewer, to enter into the experience. Completely unbiased and willing to let the film do what the film needs to do.

Telling the tale of two lost souls trying to find themselves through music, we begin with Greta (Knightley) singing a melancholy tune while clearly lamenting some sort of recently suffered tragedy. As it turns out, she’s a recently graduated Brit who travelled to the Big City with her long-time love Dave (Adam Levine) so that he could pursue he’s musical talents with the production company he recently signed with. Things don’t go as planned, as is often the case when people make big life decisions based on their lovers’ lives, and suddenly Greta is left with her guitar; a single suitcase; and her pal Steve’s (James Corden) stodgy couch as the place to rest her head. Things aren’t great, that’s for damn sure. Ruffalo finds himself on the down-and-out as well as the alcoholic absentee father who has just been fired from the production company he co-founded. Cue the cute-meet in a dingy bar where Ruffalo hears Knightley sing and, instead of seeing the verging-on-suicidal woman the audience see, he spots something special in an awesome scene where the downbeat original is transformed into an upbeat orchestration imagined by him.

The musical collaboration begins, and the pair quickly form a bond based off of their mutual need to create something great and something that goes beyond the troubles they have recently suffered. The film is magical in this sense. The quirky pair bounce off of each other and their chemistry is really quite surprising, and palpable from the word go. This broken pair needs each other, just as much as they need the music, because it’s nice not to feel alone. Don’t worry though, it’s not a romance per see, although there are flirtatious gazes and the suggestion of something “more” littered throughout the film. That’s exactly what made me love the film as well. It doesn’t conform to some Hollywood idea that a film can’t be something great and truly substantial unless its leads end up in a romantic embrace. It does the exact opposite. It shows that sometimes what’s truly best is to know that you can love yourself, without having to be loved by somebody else. That’s an important and powerful message.

What I loved most about the film was the raw charm it exuded and the bloody brilliant soundtrack throughout. From the outside looking in, the cast seem odd and mismatched. I mean we’ve got Knightley, Ruffalo, Adam Levine, James Corden and Cee-Lo-Freakin’-Green and to me it just seemed so odd and out-of-place, yet as I was watching it felt completely right. The actors just seem to bounce off of each other, and Corden brought his foul-mouthed-British charm to the fore consistently, which felt palpable and real as he interacted with Knightley and Ruffalo. The scenes where we see Greta film and sing her music in random locations across the beautiful NYC are breath-taking and charming and, as a viewer, just make you wish you were there. There is no better feeling than live music and the atmosphere it gives, and you really get the sense of this atmosphere in the film – which, kudos to the actors and director, because that is an impressive feat.

If you’re a fan of brilliant music, brilliant actors and a story that will leave you feeling hopeful then please see Begin Again. It’s something great and its messages are healthy and direct. You don’t need anybody but yourself, and you certainly don’t need the approval of many to feel the glory of success.

A rambler’s star rating?