Eli Roth - Watch and learn

Rating: 10/10 (20 June 2007)

Thank God for movies like this. In an era of "horror porn" from the likes of Eli Roth and those wonderful people at Lionsgate, where cinema appears to be descending into a dark pit as a medium of deviation and degradation, along comes this gem from Ireland to dispel the dark clouds and bring light back into the cinema.
I've heard many people refer to this as a "small" film but it isn't at all. Emotions are epic. Spirit is huge. Theme of love and a search for connection in a lonely universe is a universal one. John Carney tapped into something huge here and he deserves all the wonderful things now coming his way.
I'm proud this film is from Ireland. As a nation of only 4 million people we consistently punch way above our weight artistically (music, literature, poetry, dance - now cinema). There's a new breed of film director emerging here - people like Carney, David Gleeson and Lenny Abrahamson. Is it too early to talk about an Irish "nouvelle vague"?
"Once" is a real gift. A film which touches and moves and stays inside you. Harks back to an era when films were uplifting and inspiring. Brings you a little closer to heaven. Wonder what Eli Roth makes of it...