Sweet, but Unspectacular,

Rating: 7/10 (28 August 2018)

Begin Again is a good movie with a well developed plot and a talented cast. Mark Ruffalo is, without any doubt, the saving grace of the film, he delivers a truly pure and honest performance, delivering a very vulnerable, tragic character that we do feel for and support as the plot progresses and his character grows.
I will admit, I was expecting something more original and fresh from John Carney, the visionary writer and director behind Once and Sing Street. However, I could not help but feel an overabundance of studio involvement in this film, there was something holding it back from being different, something preventing it from standing out.
Keira Knightley is quite bland in this film, I do generally enjoy her as an actress, but I feel she did not manage to play a normal person. She suits a strong female lead, such as in Pirates of the Caribbean, or a quirky female, like in Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, but I was never convinced by her as a normal, ambitious, conflicted human, and her chemistry with Ruffalo simply felt forced.
Had potential, but lacking in originality. Unfortunately dull, Begin Again failed to sweep me away, worth the watch if you are looking for a good romance, but do not expect anything phenomenal.

A chance encounter leads a male and a female to feel reinvigorated in their careers by collaborating with one another.

Best Performance: Mark Ruffalo