Review of Once (2007) by Zack E — 02 Aug 2014

A movie like "Once" is a rare and beautiful thing, a film that tells a love story through music rather than words, and it's powerful and moving enough to restore my faith in the medium and reminds me of why I love the movies. The story couldn't be simpler, but I don't remember the last time I saw a romance that was this genuine and heartfelt.

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova are natural actors, maybe because they're not actors at all, and they are completely at ease on camera and utterly enchanting when they're on screen together. Their chemistry is unmistakable, and the music they make together is simply magical. Not only is this one of the best romantic movies I've seen, it's also a musical to be cherished for generations.

The song "Falling Slowly" is achingly beautiful, and the melody, much like the movie itself, will stick with you long after the film is over. The film has a healthy respect for the power of music, as in a key scene where Irglova breaks down during a song she's written for her estranged husband. That scene is also a favorite of mine for another reason: it shows the two character's sudden but tenacious bond without the use of a single line of dialogue. It's a moving moment in a film full of moving moments.

It's about as far from a Hollywood production as you can get, and director John Carney keeps things understated and muted, relying on the star's considerable charm to pull you into the story. It works like nothing a major studio has ever released, right up to the heartbreaking end that remains true to the film, these characters and perhaps most importantly, the audience. "Once" is a film to fall in love with, for the first time or the tenth. Movies like this don't come along every day.