Review of Once (2009) by Arianeta L — 06 May 2011

Well let's say you're watching a movie and you are loving it and at the end you cheer and tell yourself that "this was an awesome movie!" and then you realize, as the credits are rolling, that the 2 main characters are just called "guy" and "girl"--their names are never mentioned the whole movie! That is the beauty of "Once", you are so drawn into the story and interplay between the guy and girl that you don't need names. Each character is defined by who they are to each other and those in their lives! Betweem Glen Hansard who plays the guy and Marketa Irglova who plays "the girl" there is a good chemistry, but also a very sweet reluctance to go beyond the bounds of their relationship. I do have to say that Dublin (where the film set) and the seaside look great and there are more than a few great landscapes that will take your breath away.

There are no big stars and only a few actors. It's a movie that really is hard to put into words, but demonstrates that you don't need a multi- million dollar budget, A-list Hollywood actors/directors and special effects to make an incredible film. It does what any good movie should do, tells a story honestly and drops the viewer right into the action so as to feel you're there and care about what's happening. "Once" is all about the music, Glen and Marketa write their own songs and perform them in realistic settings, with nobody just breaking out into song in the middle of a scene, and without any cheesy dance scenes or spotlights.

The soundtrack is catchy and soulful with some very heartfelt lyrics and easy to enjoy music. In the film there are many familiar scenes where you almost know what is going to happen, but are still pleasantly surprised when it does. Lastly I have to mention that it is the treatment of their interest/relationship that is the best part of the film. It's refreshing to see romance done right, without sex or over the top cheesy melodramatic dialog or even a kiss, the type of crap that only happens 'in the movies', here it doesn't need to be said because like true romance it's not spoken, it's felt. Once avoids the horribly overwrought sexploitation of male/female relationships in modern film and actually respects these two characters enough to end the movie right, with the viewer walking away just like the two smitten musicians...wanting more of their music and of each other. "Once" is worth see more than once.