Begin Again - A Movie Review

Music is about ears, not eyes. Do whatever it takes to write your song.

Released to theaters in 2013, Begin Again circles around the music industry. A struggling music executive meets a young singer one night. Believing that he has the right opportunity for her, their partnership proves to be successful.

Films that center around the theme of music are important. They’re enlightening. Begin Again is all about discovering your pathway. Never let roadblocks hinder you. The film is entertaining but it could have had better enactment in its story process.

No matter what role you see him in, Mark Ruffalo can do anything. As a struggling musician executive who has made mistakes, Dan has a unique way of viewing music. It’s how he reads people.

To me, the film had a tough time deciding whose perspective we were intending to focus on. After a series of downfalls, Gretta is unsure of how to follow her pathway. Keira Knightly is great in her performance but it did not reflect in her vocals. To me, it felt like she was singing the same notes in all of her songs.

Ruffalo and Knightly were splendid together. Before filming, the pair hung out to build their chemistry. I liked their friendship. Passions bring people together for the better.

There are a lot of good performances in Begin Again. James Corden was my favorite. He won the best supportive friend award. The film includes the talents of Adam Levine, Hailee Steinfeld, Yasin Bey, Catherine Keener, and several performers. All the characters are likable and have a nice dynamic. Most of the dialogue is improvised.

Subtly could have been executed more into the script over unneeded exposition. We didn’t have to see flashbacks of Getta’s past with her ex-boyfriend. She talks about it to Dan later on. That took away from the music angle which is what Begin Again is all about.

One other aspect that I had mixed feelings about was the subplot with Dan and his ex-wife (Keener). Making a point that your career is not the only thing you can change, but also relationships. We have seen the divorce trope in several films. Dan and Miriam argue, have sweet moments, fight, and share sweet moments again. Their storyline slowed the film down.

The music business is given prime focus. The songs are catchy to listen to. Music is a story. What do you write songs for? If you are going to join the music industry, know what you are getting yourself into. It is not an easy world. One factor that will never change is how music creates a positive impact on the world.

Aside from the poor editing and unneeded subplots, John Carney did a great job from the perspective of the music world. The camera angles pay attention to reactions. Carney split between the perspectives of the characters to implement new techniques. The problem is that he does it too much. We don’t need to know everything that’s happened to the characters.

Begin Again is all about decisions and finding your passion. That’s one of the themes in this film. Put your heart into your passion. If something is not working out, don’t give up. One of the best parts of life is that we can start over. And forgive yourself for any wrong actions.

Begin Again is the right feel-good film for anyone in the music industry. It was predictable at times, but it was enjoyable. Performers alike will enjoy this film, especially all the music sequences. Find it on Netflix and enjoy.