Film Review – Begin Again

In 2007, writer/director John Carney won over the world with his teeny-tiny indie romance, “Once.” Emphasizing music and profound romantic feelings, the picture managed to make an impression despite little dramatic urgency and low-tech cinematography. Easily identified as a superpower was the feature’s soundtrack, which was often more detailed than dialogue when it came to the understanding of interior yearn. Years later, Carney returns to the realm of performance and poetry with “Begin Again,” attempting to rework formula that served him so well seven years ago. Trouble is, sincerity is missing, replaced by routine and miscasting, and while the songs are pulled off with polish, the rest of the screenplay flounders, hunting for emotional harmony that’s never truly believable. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com