Now here is a delightful little film that proves you don't need a huge budget or big name actors in order to make a great movie. I am not joking when I say that there are scenes in Once that are more exhilarating than anything in the three big threequels released this past May. Once is what real film making is all about.A street performer in Dublin (Glen Hansard) alternates his days playing guitar on the street and repairing vacuums with his father. One evening he meets an eccentric young woman (Marketa Irglova) who tells him she loves his music. The two develop a friendship based around their love for creating music. Yes, Once is a musical, but in the most unusual sense. There's no dance sequences, and the music comes naturally from the story and situations. Not being a fan of musicals, I found myself pleasantly surprised at how much I couldn't wait for each new song to come along.
Watching these two performers (and from what I understand, both are musicians first, actors second) create music together is thrilling. There is a deep connection between the two, and the music reflects it so perfectly that you yourself begin to fall in love with the characters. You want them to end up together by film's end, a result you are never certain will happen. She has an estranged husband she thinks she should reconcile with, and he has an ex-girlfriend he regrets leaving. Yet the two are so perfect for each other that you suspect they have to end up together. I won't spoil the final shot of the film, but it is exactly what it needs to be, and it's what pushed me over the top to give this film a full four out of four stars.
I'll admit, the story is not especially revolutionary nor developed (all told, Once doesn't quite hit 90 minutes). Yet the music is so perfect you'll be looking for the soundtrack upon leaving the theater. If you enjoy music based films, this is required viewing, and even if you don't, give this one a try. I honestly can't imagine someone with half a heart not loving these characters, their songs, and this film.
