REVIEW: "Begin Again"

Courtesy of The Weinstein Company

The amount of pressure on writer-director John Carney while making Begin Again, the new comedic drama starring Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo, must have been enormous. But I’m guessing other filmmakers don’t have a lot of pity for him. That’s what happens when you make a perfect movie on your first try.

Carney’s debut Once is so beautiful, so moving and so improbably successful (it won an Oscar and became a smash Broadway musical) that a follow-up seemed destined to disappoint. No, Begin Again isn’t as good. But the film is far from a let-down, boasting strong performances, an unapologetic earnest streak and several terrific songs. Aside from an ending that rubbed me the wrong way, I loved it.

The film opens with a clearly despondent Gretta (Knightley), slumped on a couch in a New York City dive bar while her musician friend (James Corden) performs. In an attempt to cheer her up, he drags her on stage, where she speeds through a beautifully sad song that almost nobody pays attention to. But one guy, standing in the middle of the small crowd, is clearly moved.

That’s Dan (Ruffalo), a former record label exec who is in the midst of an existential crisis. He’s a (barely) functioning alcoholic, recently fired, and estranged from his wife (Catherine Keener) and daughter (Hailee Steinfeld). Something in Gretta’s music has impacted him in a way he didn’t think was possible anymore.

Over the next 30 minutes or so, the film rewinds to show viewers how each character got to this bar at this moment, both at the lowest point in their lives. For Dan, it’s family issues and behavior so unprofessional that his business partner (Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def) can no longer ignore it.

In Gretta’s case, it’s heartbreak. She’s in New York because her songwriting partnership with longtime boyfriend Dave (Adam Levine) has finally paid off. Sort of. Their hard work landed him a record deal with a major label, which leads to traveling obligations that provide an opportunity for Dave to cheat on Gretta – which he does almost immediately.

Now she’s emotionally devastated in a strange city, with every intention of flying back to London the next day. But then Dan hears her play and knows he’s found a star with the potential to transform both of their lives. He eventually convinces her to collaborate with him on an unusual yet charming project, which begins to lift their spirits and turn them into better people.

Carney’s narrative, as well as its unrepentant sentimentality, makes much more sense if you’re familiar with the film’s original – and, in my opinion, superior – title, Can a Song Save Your Life? Many viewers prefer their movies dark, because they think that somehow reflects the way the world works. However, Begin Again (here’s hoping for a director’s cut reinstating the better title, a la Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous/Untitled) shows that sometimes life, despite its many painful elements, works out okay.

Carney does allow for some rough edges with his conclusion, but – ironically – that’s the only element of the film that rang false for me. Gretta makes a decision concerning her music’s future that is beautiful in theory, but it seems disrespectful to her collaborators when you dwell on it for too long.

Overall, though, the movie is fantastic. The performances and the music are strong, working together to add emotional weight to the fairly simple narrative. Praising Ruffalo’s acting is unnecessary at this point in his career, but it’s still worth emphasizing. He makes the Jekyll and Hyde components of Dan’s personality equally believable, allowing audiences to see why the character is such a mess, but also why he was so beloved in the past.

Knightley is also quite good, focusing on her character’s artistic temperament as the center of her performance. It’s always about the music for Gretta, even when that makes situations more uncomfortable than necessary. She doesn’t have time for niceties. I was also taken aback by Knightley’s lovely singing voice and guitar ability. She probably won’t sell out Madison Square Garden any time soon, but her quiet, slightly shaky delivery is perfect for a character who feels more at ease writing songs than performing them.

Perhaps the most surprising work in the film comes from Levine, best known as the lead singer of Maroon 5 and a judge on NBC’s The Voice. As if he wasn’t successful enough, his performance here proves he’s got a future in film if he ever gets bored being a pop star. Admittedly, Dave’s life isn’t that much of a stretch from his real occupation. But Levine’s charm transforms a character who could’ve easily been an unredeemable jerk into a flawed, apologetic collaborator. That takes talent.

I still can’t figure out why Begin Again isn’t getting a wider release, considering it’s about as mainstream as movies get and perfect for date night. But you can find it in several metro Atlanta theaters (it was playing in Newnan and Austell last weekend) and it’s definitely worth the short drive.

Begin Again is rated R for language.

Grade: B+