Often times in life, we only see the bookends of projects and events, whether it be something apparently inane (like cleaning up your home) or something more special(such as having a baby). For those more involved and closer to the action, however, the start and the finish are only a small detail of the entire story. In other words, the process, in between the introduction and the culmination, is often overlooked and, therefore, underappreciated.
In “Begin Again,” the bookends I was speaking of are displayed more or less as they appear to be and the process is given its due. What better subject is there to view the process of than making music? While the question is phrased as a rhetorical one, it has great merit. We all have things in which we are passionate about, but for so many, music is something we do not just enjoy for the artistic aspect alone. We embrace it as a key component of our lives. We connect to it because we feel something in the lyrics or the sound. Whether it be a bout of unabashed, self-serving emotions or a quiet, introspective moment we would just as soon never desire anyone else to uncover, there is something for everyone to grab onto in the realm of music and this film delivers the opportunity for that in both, more pointed constructions, as well as more spontaneous performances.
“Begin Again” starts out with little in the way of originality. Mark Ruffalo as “Dan Mulligan”(for those of you unfamiliar with golf, a “mulligan” implies a re-shoot with no penalty) is a typical character for this type of story. He is awkward around most people, witty and deceptively clever, successful but unkempt and eccentric and the beat goes on from there. He discovers a beautiful and talented woman, played by Keira Knightley as “Greta” and she seems to be a perfect counterpoint to his approach on life. She is more realistic, also clever but less shrewd, and is much more guarded and less secure with who she is (assuming she is at all in touch with herself). It is from there where the story gets a lot more interesting and creative and it was probably no mistake that the makers of this film were so quick to get to that point of the story.
Irish director John Carney, who also directed and wrote the overachieving film “Once,” knows what it takes to make a successful, low-budget movie. He seems to really have a grasp on the world of music and entertainment and tells the story from a rather easy, but effective perspective. The characters do not just come out and tell us what their motives are and yet we completely understand where they are coming from and where they might even be headed. You can grapple with the sub-text of whether it is more noble to remain a poor, but dynamic musician, or smarter to become a “sell-out,” who traded his or her craftsmanship for money and more lucrative success, yet you will not be so wrapped up in your thoughts that you will not be able to follow the film.
It would be interesting to find out just how much of the music performances were scripted versus ad-libbed. Adam Levine of Maroon 5 as Dave Kohl, gives a surprisingly good performance, seemingly drawing upon a lot of his own personal experiences as a big-time musician. Mos Def, who has had a fair amount of success as a musician AND as an actor, no doubt played his role of “Saul” much like he understood the persona of big-wigs to be in HIS own experience. Frankly, I saw CeeLo Green’s performance as mostly unneeded, but it was generous of him to appear in such a movie. As people often say, the right script will attract the right people, no matter the cost. Possibly the most important secondary character was that played by Hailee Steinfeld as “Violet Mulligan.” She had her hands, quite literally, in what I view as the most important moment of the film and it all but seemed too good to be scripted or too good to be real, depending on YOUR own personal point-of-view.
“Begin Again” is naturally flawed, which in some ways makes it more appealing and even adds to the context of the process of making music or art or anything that you consider important in life. I do not put it quite in the same class as Jon Favreu’s “Chef,” but it is certainly not terribly far beneath it. As you watch this movie, allow yourself to be touched and inspired, whether it is the people, the music, or even the atmosphere. There is a clear message in this story and I am personally challenging YOU to find it, because it may very well be different and unique from my own. If I can sum it up, it is like this: music is many things! It fills holes in our souls, inspires emotions and tells stories about US as people.
So, the next time you see a finished project, think about the process of getting to that spot and do not forget the importance of that.
Director: John Carney
Producers: Anthony Bregman, Tobin Armbrust
Screenwriter: John Carney
Starring: Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine, Hailee Steinfeld, James Corden as “Steve,” CeeLo Green as “Trouble Gum,” Catherine Keener as “Miriam”
Music by: Gregg Alexander
Distributor: The Weinstein Company
Release: June 27th, 2014(U.S.)
