Once

January 3rd, 2008 | by Scott |

Wow.

This is my favorite movie of the year so far. Great reviews but no talk of any noms.

It’s a tender, heartrending musical. Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová are professional musicians not actors. Yet the vulnerability and emotion that they show in the music they perform together weave a rich tapestry of love lost and confounded. Here it is the music that tells the story as the characters connect through the power of song. The stripped down tunes lends an emotional heft and spiritual nakedness to the storyline.
It’s at 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and considered by many to be one of the best films of the year.
My Emusic downloads just refreshed and I envision downloading everything these two have on their including Hansards work with The Frames.

Here is one of the opening songs “Say It To Me Now”

“When Your Mind’s Made Up”

And the transcendent “Falling Slowly”

Rent this movie. Now.

  1. 6 Responses to “Once”

  2. By happy on Jan 3, 2008 | Reply

    make sure you download Glen Hansard’s The Swell Season instead of the Once soundtrack more money goes to him and Marketa. I gave the gift of ONCE to a young couple doing a campus ministry at UTSA and they wouldn’t take it, saying the dropping of the FBomb made it unbearable. Laura and I saw them at Stubbs a couple months back it was one of my highlights from last year and of course the Austin City Limits Taping of Crowded House.

  3. By Scott on Jan 4, 2008 | Reply

    The Swell Season is on emusic so I am definitely getting that. I’ll end up getting once off of itunes as well.
    I’m jealous of all of the great shows you get to see.

  4. By JTB on Jan 4, 2008 | Reply

    Brent and I loved this movie as well…saw it in theatre while still in Princeton. And immediately bought the soundtrack…didn’t know the factoid about The Swell Season.

  5. By Colleen on Jan 5, 2008 | Reply

    Well, Scott, I knew I would like this movie based on your description and the youtube clips you posted…and all I can say is we absolutely loved it. What a testament to the capacity of music to connect people in such a powerful way…I definitely will be getting the soundtrack and ‘The Swell Season’ as well as checking into whatever else they have available. Thank you so much for the recommendation…I can’t get “Falling Slowly” out of my head, lol…such beautiful song…

  6. By Jenny P on Jan 6, 2008 | Reply

    Loved it. Watched it twice.

  7. By Scott on Jan 7, 2008 | Reply

    I’m glad both of you enjoyed it. Another friend of mine watched it and scooped up the music as well. It’s so deeply affecting that it’s hard not to be moved by it.
    I don’t watch movies over and over but it’s one worth buying.

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