[This is a re-postal service of my review from the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. Begin Again opens this weekend in limited release.]

John Carney's 2007 picture Once was a surprising, touching musical most ii musicians falling in love through their dearest of music. Information technology felt authentic thanks to the naturalistic direction, and real-life musicians Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, who made their interim debuts and fell in love in real life. That kind of chemical science is lightning in a bottle, merely it provided In one case with a unique and vibrant feel that expertly wove together a dear of music and a love between two people. Carney's new film, Brainstorm Again , returns to similar territory but with a more polished arroyo that diminishes the charm in favor of a more than Hollywood-friendly feel. The movie is still funny, good-natured, and most importantly, stresses the joy of sharing music with others. Information technology's fifty-fifty a little acerbic in its tone towards the music business organisation, but Carney's flick is guilty of the some of the same critiques regarding watered-downward entertainment.

Greta (Keira Knightley) and Dan (Mark Ruffalo) are at their personal nadirs when they meet by chance during an open mic night at a New York bar. Greta'due south boyfriend Dave (Adam Levine) has gone on to become a big rock star sell-out and cheated on her. Dan is an A&R executive and bitter boozer who has become disgusted with the direction his music company is headed, and he's besides become estranged from his teenage girl Violet (Hailee Steinfeld). When Greta, who considers herself a songwriter more a vocaliser, performs one of her songs at the open mic night, Dan hears it and sees a gamble to make her a tiptop artist. Their collaboration eventually rebuilds their self-esteem, and offers them a risk at mending their broken relationships as they put together a demo to get Greta a recording contract.

begin-again-keira-knightley

Brainstorm Again shares One time'south plot insofar as 2 people build a connection by trying to brand sweet music together. Just where In one case was primarily focused on the relationship between ii people falling in love, the relationship between Greta and Dan is meant to exist inclusive. Dan comes upward with the thought that Greta and a ragtag band of other musicians should record all their music on the streets of New York to give the songs a unique experience. This ties in nicely with Greta growing out of her shell past discovering she didn't demand to exist a songwriter in Dave'southward shadow, and her voice is better than his, especially as his voice is increasingly watered down by the demands of the professional music concern.

I'll admit I have no taste in music, but Begin Again does a swell chore differentiating skilful tunes from bad ones. When Dan is listening to CDs in his car with music from potential clients, nosotros can hear the manufactured, generic sound that would brand anyone want to toss those CDs out the window. And while Greta's songs aren't as skilful as the music from In one case, we sympathize that they have a personal touch that gets surgically removed from Top 40 singles. The criticism comes in almost articulate when nosotros hear the development of Dave's music from something authentic to something that is wholly product and devoid of emotion.

begin-again-keira-knightley-adam-levine

Notwithstanding, like Dave, Begin Again is also playing it safe to some extent. At one point, Greta and Dan concord that a person'southward playlist says a lot about that person. They decide to use Dan's headphone splitter and listen to Greta's iPod every bit they walk around New York City. These are 2 people who are deeply versed in music, and those people tend to like obscure material, which is office of the joy of sharing music that's supposed to be ane of the themes of the movie. Just when Greta and Dan are walking around, they're listening to famous archetype tunes we've heard countless times before. You lot tin tell a lot about a person by the music they listen to, and you lot can as well tell a lot near the moving picture by the music it puts on the soundtrack.

That prophylactic, make clean feel permeates the unabridged characteristic into something that is overnice but non particularly rewarding. At that place'southward a good message at the heart of the motion picture, and the bandage is a lot of fun, especially Ruffalo. But while the moving-picture show may proclaim the importance of finding a unique vocalisation and sharing information technology with the world, the film feels alike to an culling indie that lands on the Pinnacle 40. Its intentions are practiced, but part of its appeal is how it's designed to attain the widest audience possible rather than convey something personal. Brainstorm Again has a heart, but it has trouble finding the right place to put it.

Rating: C+

begin-again-poster

Exclusive: 'Death on the Nile' Mondo Poster Evokes the Opulence of Agatha Christie's Murder Mystery

Read Next

About The Author

Matt Goldberg (15131 Manufactures Published)

Matt Goldberg has been an editor with Collider since 2007. Every bit the site's Chief Film Critic, he has authored hundreds of reviews and covered major film festivals including the Toronto International Pic Festival and the Sundance Flick Festival. He resides in Atlanta with his married woman and their dog Jack.

More From Matt Goldberg