Raise your hopeful voice

Wow...am on a roll this week. Another one hit out of the ballpark! (tomorrow it's back to Law & Order: SVU episodes, so won't have one of these posts) This time was the indy modern musical, Once.

The musical for people who hate musicals. The primary characters are song-writers working on a project together, so the songs are natural part of the story--not a hey, let's get an elaborately choreographed performance at the post-graduation carnival, or during the storming of the Bastille. For Once, it's while writing a song...or practicing for a recording session. And, true to the singer-songwriter genre, the songs reflect their emotional life and move the story along.

This movie was made on the quick (17 days of filming) and on the cheap, in typical indie style. Which, of course, just helps the film. It's a pure, beautiful, moving film--clearly interested in telling it's story, not in making money or pleasing a studio. (both of which I'm pretty sure it's done now)

The performances are understated--the whole thing is understated. I think only 2 characters have names--neither of the leads do. The script was sparse, simple. The actors match that. The only time they really let go and give push themselves is during the songs (and even then, I think they could both let go a little more). Markéta Irglová is the sweetest thing on film this side of Serenity's Kaylee, and Glen Hansard is perfect as the sensitive yet awkward artist.

The music is great. The music would be worth sitting through a bunch of posing and pontificating, bad lines and miscast actors. Thankfully, John Carney, the writer/director didn't give us any of that. As I'm typing I'm just skipping through the DVD to find my favorite songs to listen to. The Offspring are going to get sick of this soundtrack once I get it. I can promise that.