Slightly Interesting

Rating: 6/10 (12 July 2014)

This is the story of two aspiring musicians in New York City. Unfortunately, is isn't very well-written. Writer/director Andrew Carney, who also created Once, just isn't a good writer. The on screen talent is there; Mark Ruffalo, Kiera Knightly, Adam Levine, but film is a collaborative medium. The footage of the lower East Side of New York City is probably this movie's best feature. It recalls Manhattan. What can you say about a movie that makes these three actors look their worst and puts them in a series of not very believable situations? We are supposed to believe that you can put Kiera Knightly in a small club and have her perform a song but people will not look at her because she isn't wearing makeup. You'd have to get someone with much worse bone structure to make that even believable. We are supposed to believe that Mark Ruffalo is a successful music industry figure who wants music to be free. That's not what they were known for. Supposedly Kiera Knightly objects to wearing makeup to the point that she'd rather fail in her profession. It's not like someone asked her to dress up like Rihanna. The things the characters are supposedly fighting for seem less than believable, or even necessary.
You hear a lot of music. Unfortunately, it is vapid and forgettable. This makes the plot even more unlikely. Supposedly there are issues about musical integrity. That plot line just doesn't work because the actual music is vapid.
I saw this movie because it was the only thing in the theaters that would appeal to a grown up woman in months. I guess is was better than not seeing a movie, but not as good as a good movie.