Once upon a time, there was $0,10 and a broken vacuum cleaner...

Rating: 8/10 (7 September 2015)

John Carney shows with Once that a great movie can be made with only three things: A good idea, a camera and the will of making it work. From scene one this movie touched me, 'cause it felt so real, unlikely most of big budgets movies. All the long shots, showing the real movement of the city. Terrific, there is no other words.
Despite being amazingly done, Once is not flawless. I felt that John Carney wasn't comfortable using the camera in the beginning, I felt like he couldn't find the right spot. The first duet shows it clearly. But he started loosing up, relaxing and he find himself a couple scenes later.
Talking about flaws in the movie, this is one of a few movies that feel completely organic, alive, a movie that flows. That said, the scene during the break of the recording session, when the protagonist go to the room with the piano, couldn't be more artificial. I wont lie, I was ashamed with that simple scene. The girl walks randomly through the studio and end in a dark room with a piano illuminated by a lamp. C'mon! There was many other better situations to create that particular scene, without losing the organic feeling.
As I said above, this movie feel so real and organic, mostly to someone in the "amateur" music, that one can see himself in some scenes. Like the rehearsal of the five members band in a little bedroom, or the big dinner party with all the parallel conversations and music jam. The montages, the walks, the talks, the characters. ALL SO REAL!
Casting non-professional or at least no high profile actors, made all the difference. When there is no spotlight in the actors, it is easier to fall for the story. I mean, if a actor that I like is on the movie, I'll wait for him to be on screen, I'll go for the detail in his performance, maybe even taking a side before the development of a discussion. That affects the viewer. But this movie doesn't have this problem!
The whole story is credible. Is not a fairy tale, or a cliché-novel, it is a story of two completely strangers who find themselves in the world and become friends. From scene one to the end credits, is a lovely story of someone you could know or even be.
I wont lie, I wanted the two to end together. But there was the ex's, to who everybody want to get back and try to make it work. That felt so real, like it had happened to me. Oh wait, it did! Anyway... Although, the movie wouldn't be that great movie with them together in the end. Buying her the piano wouldn't be such a big deal if they were together. It would be a big present, but not THAT BIG DEAL.
And the music. What can I say? I love Singer-Songwriter stuff, like Damien Rice and Laura Marling. I'll buy the soundtrack as soon as possible. And I need to learn the jam of the bus. "F*CK HER, F*CK HER... F*CK HER, SHE'S GONE!"