Begin Again

Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo team up to bring music to the streets of New York City

Can a song save your life? That is the question posed by John Carney’s new musical drama Begin Again in which a chance encounter between a disgraced music-business executive and a young singer-songwriter turns into the musical collaboration of a lifetime.

Mark Ruffalo stars as Dan, a once popular record producer who has fallen into obscurity after being shunned by his own indie label. Separated from his wife, Miriam (Catherine Keener), and estranged from his daughter Violet (Hailee Steinfeld), he lives alone in a small city apartment and spends his days smoking, drinking and sleeping in. One miserable evening he drunkenly stumbles into a bar on open mic night and falls head over heels in love with a song by Brit folk singer and guitarist Greta (Keira Knightley).  He is convinced she is the next big thing but Greta needs persuading. Sure enough, a few drinks later, she warms to the idea after he promises to produce the tracks himself on a low budget. What follows is a story about the making of a musical record that explores an amalgamation of themes including musical purity versus commercial success, broken families, unrequited love and the saving grace of music.

Knightley supplies her own understated vocals; her melodic tone serendipitously matches Greta’s timid confidence. In a spot of perfect casting, Adam Levine plays her self-absorbed boyfriend and musician partner on the cusp of stardom. While he is drawn to fame, Greta remains comfortable enjoying a level of anonymity – “I’m not a singer. I just write songs from time to time,” she confesses. 

Director John Carney follows in the footsteps of his last musical feature Once by giving the drama a naturalistic quality and filming largely by improvisation. There is an in-the-moment freshness about the musical numbers, which take place in the grit of New York City with the trashcans, car engines and sirens blazing. The script doesn’t take the expected routes but instead remains fresh and heartfelt. It actively rejects easy romantic troupes while the accompanying soundtrack inspires all the right warm and fuzzy moments (and some not-so-warm-and-fuzzy moments) that an audience desires. The film is not a musical but rather a film with music – an ode to artists and creativity in the city of blinding lights.

Begin Again has a personal element that’s missing from most contemporary romantic comedies. There’s a level of reality to the performances and a bitter sweetness in the music. Director John Carney has put his heart and soul into a story we all can relate to, whether we are musicians or happy listeners, that is told in a genuinely gentle and romantic way. It hits the sweet spot just right.