Once
Reviewer: Lee Griffiths
Issue 101 March 2008
(2 votes, average: 8.5 out of 10)
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It’s never enough.
The Lowdown: A busker and an immigrant girl meet on the streets of Dublin and instantly click. Their friendship quickly blooms thanks to their mutual love of music, and each of their pasts is gradually revealed through their various musical collaborations (he on guitar, she on piano).
Review: The Irish Glen Hansard and the Czech Marketa Irglova are the real-life musicians who are fortunate enough to discover one another in John Carney’s (former bassist for Hansard’s band, The Frames) loveable amalgamation of romantic drama and modern day musical. With Once being name-dropped throughout ‘Film 2007’s’ yearly round-up as being numerous Hollywood A-lister’s movie of the year, and with a guitar case full of awards functioning as a glowing seal of approval, Once shouldn’t have too much difficulty in finding its audience on DVD, though in case you need just one final nudge, we absolutely insist that you check this out.
Though the initial elongated acoustic musical numbers (courtesy of Hansard – a dead ringer for Zig of ‘Zig and Zag’ fame) suggest that some trying viewing is ahead, the gentle rhythm and the charmingly naturalistic performances quickly win you over. The merging of a kitchen sink style drama and the understated musical numbers make for some novel viewing, while Once’s delicate simplicity will no doubt burrow into your heart and have you smiling and humming the likes of ‘Falling Slowly’ for days after.
The disc includes two decent audio commentaries, though the tantalising prospect of the ‘Musical Commentary’ is actually a standard commentary on the musical numbers that feature in the film. The ‘Making A Modern Day Musical’ featurette provides some worthwhile behind-the-scenes info, as well as interviews with the cast and crew.
FILM: 7 EXTRAS: 6
DVD Info:
Certificate: 15
Starring: Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova
Directed By: John Carney
Distributor: Icon
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Visuals: 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen
Running Time: 85 mins
Price: £19.99
Film supplied by:
Rabbit Publicity
Special Features:
‘Making A Modern Day Musical’ Featurette
‘More Guy, More Girl’ Featurette
Audio Commentary With Writer/Director John Carney And Actor/Musicians Glen Hansard And Marketa Irglova
Musical Commentary With Writer/Director John Carney And Actor/Musicians Glen Hansard And Marketa Irglova
Theatrical Trailer
Scene Selection
