Keira Knightley movie 'Begin Again' is a glorified retread of director John Carney's film 'Once'
Irish writer-director John Carney believes in the healing powers of聽song. Boy, does he ever. 鈥淥nce,鈥� his 2006 indie smash, was all about that,聽and so is his new film 鈥淏egin Again,鈥� which was originally titled 鈥淐an A聽Song Save Your Life?鈥�
His answer, of course, is yes. For those of us who prefer our music聽lessons with a bit less treacle, the verdict is still in. 鈥淏egin Again鈥� feels聽more like a glorified retread of 鈥�Once鈥� than something freshly imagined.聽
Mark Ruffalo, in a rare not-wonderful performance, plays Dan Mulligan,聽a dissolute music industry producer in New York, separated from his wife (Catherine Keener) and estranged from his daughter (Hailee Steinfeld), who finds career and personal redemption in聽promoting little-known Brit balladeer聽Greta (played well enough by Keira Knightley, who performs some of the聽songs).聽
Most of the music is by New Radicals frontman Gregg Alexander,聽and it鈥檚 heartfelt without ever really touching the heart. Grade: C+ (Rated R for language.)
