Dull and there's better stuff out there

Rating: 6/10 (10 December 2007)

This highly successful, low budget Irish film has struck a chord across the world and the reasons why remain a complete mystery. Yes, it's nice. Yes, it's vaguely heart-warming. However, there are far better films out there and this film provides little insight into love or the human condition and commits one of the worst crimes of all  it's dull.
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova produce two adept performances, whilst their songs are of a high quality and the film itself clearly has its heart in the right place. But it just doesn't work. The pace is glacial, with much of the romantic suspense being done away with in the opening half-hour. In the end it feels like an extended music video and is hardly cinematic.
Pleasant as far as it goes, but there really are better things to do with your time and far greater films that deal with the subject of unrequited love.