There are movies that put their message, their story, their 'drama' out there- in your face- and then there are movies that subtly express 'life' in just one scene; and that also is so subliminal that you feel it somewhere inside and little while later know you understood. All I'm trying to say, it that it's just so relatable when it's not so in any apparent way. It doesn't have to be. I'm talking about the only worthy release of the past week- Begin Again.
Starring Kiera Knightley, Mark Ruffalo *twinkle-eyes*, and Adam Levine, Begin Again is a movie simple and sincere to music, love and relationships. In summary, it's about Dave (Adam Levine) cheating on his songwriter-partner and girlfriend since 5 years, Gretta (Keira Knightley) while on tour; Gretta ends up in a bar with a friend who forces her to sing on stage, where Dan (Mark Ruffalo), discredited record label guy falls for her talent and wants to produce her album.
Begin Again is good because it fails to accord to a typical movie plot. I love how Dave genuinely wants to get back and isn't just another boyfriend who gets rich, cheats and doesn't regret it. I love how Gretta and Dan don't have a steamy moment which they both would regret. Theirs is a complex relationship with underlying tones of respect, appreciation, friendship and care (nothing romantic!). But what I love is the most is how each character evolves individually through the movie.
The movie narrates the story using a series of flashbacks; which is not confusing, and very interesting! New York looks like a dream as usual and Keira's singing skills are more than a pleasant surprise.
My favourite scene is one in the end when Gretta is at Dave's show and has a sort of epiphany of her own choices and future by looking at the audience and the effect her kind of music has on people. I realize, at the end, her earnestness in wanting to make her music reach to the audience.
So that's why this movie isn't about romance or breakups. It's about love for life, for relationships and above all for music. Do take time out to watch it. If nothing else, it will be and hour and forty five minutes of good music to your auricular nerves.
Let me what you think!
