 | By Molly Snyder Edler   OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer E-mail author | Author bio More articles by Molly Snyder Edler |
| Published March 19, 2008 at 5:59 p.m. |
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A few friends suggested that I see the Irish musical film "Once," starring Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, so I put it into my Netflix queue and forgot about it until the DVD showed up in my mailbox last week.
I had low expectations for this film because I'm not usually a big musical lover (although I do know all of the words to all of the songs from "Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" for some reason), but despite my original skepticism, I really loved this film.
I was moved by the music as well as the story of an Irish "busker" (Hansard) who plays guitar on the Dublin streets when he isn't working in his dad's Hoover repair shop. He meets a Czech girl (Irglová ) who needs help with her vacuum and happens to play a mean piano. The two proceed to make music, and although their feelings for each other are intense, their lives are too complicated for their relationship to become romantic.
Yes, it gets contrived -- like how the two happen to stumble upon random pianos -- but at the same time, I found it very real, almost like a documentary. Perhaps this is because Hansard and Irglová fell in love for real while writing the music and filming "Once."
Neither of the two are actors by trade -- both are professional musicians -- but their performances were extremely believable. (On a side bar, it's worth noting that Irglová was only 17 when she and Hansard, then 36, started working together. It's unclear when the two became romantically linked, but today they are still together, and lucky for Hansard, she's now a legal 20.)
I admit that part of the reason I loved this film is because it reminds me of when my husband and I traveled through Europe in 1993. We drove an old Volvo station wagon through seven countries and busked / played street guitar for spending money.
However, I quickly realized not everyone enjoyed "Once" as much as I did. One friend said she found it cheesy, another said she left the theater halfway through the film because she found their voices so off-putting.
But despite the naysayers, Hansard's and Irglova's band, The Swell Season, sold out The Riverside Theater for their Milwaukee performance on Thursday, May 8. Originally, the band was scheduled to gig at The Pabst, but the show sold out so quickly it was moved to the Riverside where it sold out, as well. I look forward to seeing this performance and reviewing it for OnMilwaukee.com.
116 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53203
(414) 286-3663
http://www.riversidetheater.org
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13 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review. |
Recent Talkbacks ...
Posted by Bella on March 21, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. (report)
I really liked the soundtrack to this movie....I haven't seen the actual movie yet though
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Posted by wfbgal on March 20, 2008 at 9:10 p.m. (report)
Thank you Downtowner, I was afraid to mention the audio, as I think I am loosing my hearing!! I'm glad I wasn't the only one.
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Posted by Downtowner on March 20, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. (report)
I had many people recommend this movie and its soundtrack. My sister was certain I'd love it and its message. It bored the heck out of me, and I turned it off after 30 minutes. Maybe I'm too America, but I had to use closed captioning so I could understand what they were mumbling. It was creative, I guess and a bit inspirational, but the dude bugged me and the chick, yawn. Maybe I'll give it another spin, though. For now, though, thumbs down.
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Posted by wfbgal on March 20, 2008 at 11:45 a.m. (report)
My friend had suggested the movie. I never heard of it and had no expectations. I did not know what it was about. I was bored, uncomfortable, kept sighing and looking at my watch. I didn't finish the movie, as I didn't want to ruin it for my friend. I waited in the lobby, walked around the theater - admiring the detail and history of the old theater and read several of the "free magazines" My friend was shocked, but not offended that I really didn't get into it. My husband was born and raised in Ireland and everyone assumes that we love everything Irish - including guinness beer. I need a fast moving movie, with comedy. This one got a two thumbs down for me.
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Posted by EliCash on March 20, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. (report)
I had WAY too high of hopes for this one, judging by all the great press and the fact that Hansard is from The Frames (and they're a respectable group). But 'Once' was almost unwatchable at points, for myself and girlfriend. I love music, AND movies, so if the music were good (sorry for those who do like it) I would have at least loved the movie vicariously (even if the performances sucked). But I didnt even like the music at all. The song that won the oscar is excruciatingly mopey (even for a huge Elliott Smith/Morrissey fan like myself), and the high note he hits in the chorus makes me feel sick to my stomach. (Speaking of which, in this case Elliott Smith got robbed for his 'Miss Misery' nomination for Good Will Hunting.) I thought the lyrics were trite and played-out, with a melody/progression that seems like well-worn territory itself. The fact that the music from "enchanted" was so annoying/childish (not to mention three nominations which surely cancelled themselves out) left little challenge for the one 'real' song up for the oscar to win (for Once). Also, if the movie cost ("only") $200,000 ; one question, WHERE DID ALL THE MONEY GO?!
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