Review: "Once"
R. and I saw a new movie today mostly because the Chronicle gave it four stars. It's about two people who meet and get to know each other a bit. It's being called a musical. After I saw the movie, I realized that the term "musical" has some really odd connotations for me, among them that 1) I won't like the songs and 2) the singing will be gratuitous.
I liked the way "Chicago" got around the gratuitous part a lot of times by making the songs be people's daydreams (or other things that aren't actually happening). "Once" gets around the gratuitous part by making the characters musicians. So they actually do break out into song in their daily lives.
And it's not Broadway Production style music, it's garage band style music, only good. (If you can't tell for yourself whether it's good, it's in the script so you still get to find out. But I did like the music.)
Most of the plot is about music making and about relationships, so if you want an action movie, this isn't it. I'm trying to think what the biggest action scene was. Maybe when this one guy picked up a little kid and put her in his lap.
And unlike most movies with music, it really looks like the actors are actually making the music. Because they are. Or at least they are credited for having done so at the end of the movie. The only exception is the guy at the soundboard--apparently his adjustments have nothing to do with the actual sound. But that just involves a second here and there, not very painful at all.
The movie seems like it's about people, but afterwards I decided it was about how some songs got made. I'm not sure I'm generally interested in how songs get made, but I liked the songs and enjoyed watching them get made. So this is sort of like a concert movie or a documentary about musicians, only the movie makers get to create the plot and characters. And since you don't already know the songs, they always let you hear the whole song.
I recommend it.
Blog of the day - Wardrobe Refashion for multiple bloggers who have pledged to "refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract" and also to share by posting progress reports with pictures. It turns out refashioning isn't just about sewing lace or cut-outs of pumpkins onto ordinary sweatshirts. For example, see today's entry on changing a neckline from a turtle neck to a crew neck.
I liked the way "Chicago" got around the gratuitous part a lot of times by making the songs be people's daydreams (or other things that aren't actually happening). "Once" gets around the gratuitous part by making the characters musicians. So they actually do break out into song in their daily lives.
And it's not Broadway Production style music, it's garage band style music, only good. (If you can't tell for yourself whether it's good, it's in the script so you still get to find out. But I did like the music.)
Most of the plot is about music making and about relationships, so if you want an action movie, this isn't it. I'm trying to think what the biggest action scene was. Maybe when this one guy picked up a little kid and put her in his lap.
And unlike most movies with music, it really looks like the actors are actually making the music. Because they are. Or at least they are credited for having done so at the end of the movie. The only exception is the guy at the soundboard--apparently his adjustments have nothing to do with the actual sound. But that just involves a second here and there, not very painful at all.
The movie seems like it's about people, but afterwards I decided it was about how some songs got made. I'm not sure I'm generally interested in how songs get made, but I liked the songs and enjoyed watching them get made. So this is sort of like a concert movie or a documentary about musicians, only the movie makers get to create the plot and characters. And since you don't already know the songs, they always let you hear the whole song.
I recommend it.
Blog of the day - Wardrobe Refashion for multiple bloggers who have pledged to "refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract" and also to share by posting progress reports with pictures. It turns out refashioning isn't just about sewing lace or cut-outs of pumpkins onto ordinary sweatshirts. For example, see today's entry on changing a neckline from a turtle neck to a crew neck.