Emotion: Nothing Worth Running From

Director John Carney wrote the movie Once for all of us who have had a bad day.  In the movie one can feel the power of music as therapy.  The lead role is played by Glen Hansard a member of the Irish rock group, The Frames.  It is the story of his life as a vacuum repairer who lives with his father.  He has gone through a difficult break up; in the movie he expresses himself through his music.  During the movie meets up with a single mother played by Marketa Irglova, a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, the two come together because of their love for music.

            John Carney’s use of actual musicians instead of actors made the movie spectacular.  Once is a break from the normal movie, the passion in the movie is real.  One can not only see but feel this passion by Glen when he sings.  The songs used for the movie really express this passion.  It is clear these songs were written by a man who has a broken heart.  The pain and emotion Glen conveys in the movie is worthy of an A-list actor.  The rest of his performance is average, however, this gives the movie a very casual feel that works well for the film.  It is a good portrayal of a poor man that transforms into someone completely different when he signs. 

             Marketa did a good job as a musician acting in a film.  Her signing was  good, but it did not have the passion that Glen brought to the movie.  Her lyrics were her best contribution to the movie.  She seemed awkward on the screen, fortunately this worked for her character.  She brought music talent and passable acting ability but no lasting impression to the movie.

            The storyline of the movie is very moving.  When watching the movie it felt like the two main characters were living their lives, writing the songs as life happened to them. Both characters lead difficult lives in the moive.  Marketa is a single mother living with her mother in an apartment complex with one T.V.   Glen still lives with his father above his father’s vacuum repair shop and has recently been cheated on by a women.  Both find comfort and release in music.  The pain and hurt Glen has from leaving his woman can be felt especially in the songs, Leave and Say it to Me Now.  Marketa’s song If You Want Me, is moving, the way she sings one knows she has been hurt.

            Once is a movie that leaves an impression.  The emotion that Glen has when he sings is very powerful and is the most memorable part of the movie.  Marketa’s lyrics were very good but were shadowed by Glen’s performance.  The story is very easy to relate to, this makes the emotional impact that much stronger.  Once is a great movie to put in when having a bad day, it warms the heart and the soul.