I ended the summer with the perfect trip tot he theater. I saw the new John Carney film, "Begin Again", and it was glorious. It is funny, sweet, and a bit sappy at times. A sappy that works for the film, not against it. Keira Knightley is achingly wonderful as a spurned song writer, whose boyfriend becomes a rock star, and left her for another woman on the road. Her counterpart, played by Mark Ruffalo, is a down-on-his-luck record producer, estranged from his family, and his label, who discovers her in a dive bar. Their chemistry together is absolutely perfect, and they match each other's energy step for step. James Corden is also quite brilliant as Knightley's friend from home, who takes her in after her break-up. The music in this film, co-written mostly by Carney and New Radicals members Gregg Alexander and Danielle Brisebois, is a lot of fun, and helps move the story along at a good pace. What could have been a convoluted mess, was easily one of the most enjoyable films of the year.
Grade: A-
3D: N/A
Easter Egg: The entirety of the credits.
Starring: Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Hailee Steinfeld
Director: James Carney
Writer(s): James Carney
RT: 104 min
Rating: Rated R for language
