A Film Review: Begin Again

And God, tell us the reason youth is wasted on the young.
It's hunting season and this lamb is on the run.
We're searching for meaning...
But are we all lost stars trying to light up the dark?

- Lost Stars, Begin Again (2013)

I'm an avid fan of movies with a lot of music in them. I tend to go for those in the likes of August Rush and Rent. I especially like those with great OSTs. I was in for a pleasant surprise cause when I went to catch this movie I had no idea what it was about.

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Let's talk about Begin Again. This movie had its debut at last year's Toronto International Film Festival but only released to the international public this July 2014. At a glimpse, the movie is basically a movie about moving on and starting again [Yes, it is made obvious by the title. I like it better than the original title planned which is Can a Song Save Your Life?].

Beware there may be spoilers ahead. You have been warned.

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Anyway, there's this long term couple who are songwriters as well as artists, Dave Kohl (Adam Levine) gets signed on by a label and that brings them to New York. Gretta (Keira Knightley), Dave's girlfriend, then gets a taste of how fame can change people. Gretta and Dave do not work out and that brings us to Gretta meeting Dan Mulligan (Mark Ruffalo). Dan is a washed up music producer who's job and life have fallen apart. He sees Gretta's music as his ticket back into producing "real" music as opposed to what his label wants. There adventure begins as they start recording an album in the streets of New York in an against all odds manner. Along the way, you meet Violet Mulligan (Hailee Steinfeld) and Miriam (Catherine Keener), Dan's daughter and ex wife respectively. James Corden plays Steve, Gretta's best friend and CeeLo Green as Trouble Gum, an old friend of Dan's. It ends in a delightfully bitter sweet, realistic path for all characters. That was a risk the writers took and  for that I give them a kudos on a job well done.

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Exceptional casting of course and great direction by John Carney. This is why I was surprised that the rights to distribution was only acquired in September 2013 by The Weinstein Company. A powerful cast behind it and it was only released to the public a year later. I love the Keira Knightley's portrayal of being both feminine and androgynous at the same time. I think this is a signature for her and it translates in the movie very well. Adam Levine's debut in acting wasn't as strong. He obviously needs a little bit more practice cause in some of his scenes the emotions didn't come across very well. [Let me just say that beard was horrendously funny.] Moreover, to be paired with a seasoned actress like Keira was a bit too much. Mark Ruffalo showing everyone that he is in his element of course. I prefer this type of characters on him. Dare I say that he's way better in this than being The Hulk.

Cinematography around New York was amazing. You also can check out the OST below via Spotify.

The verdict for this movie is a must see. It's worth your time and money. The best people to go with would be friends (preferably those that love and appreciate music and probably have been in a band.) cause this is definitely not a date movie.