An Acoustic Mood (Once (DVD))

Member Name: utero

Product:	Once (DVD)
Date:	25/06/08 (78 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great Songs, Subtle Performances, Simply Plotted

Disadvantages: Nothing really apart from one cliched moment

Sometimes the little guy gets the breaks and wins over the big guy. That's the case with Once, a small Irish film shot made for around £100,000. With good word of mouth it took close to $10 million in the US and winded up winning the Best Original Song Oscar for it's two main stars.

A man (we never find out his name) ponders his next step in life, wondering whether to stay in Dublin busking on the streets and doing vacuum cleaner repairs or make the trip to London to join his on/off girlfriend. When he meets a female immigrant, she becomes the turning point as she joins him in bringing his songs from the streets to life in a recording studio; she's also the potential new love interest.

Once is so simple in it's execution you wonder how the hell it works as a story when essentially you could write the whole plot on the back of a postcard. But it does thanks to the good chemistry between its leads and the great music that makes up the soundtrack.

Director and ex-musician John Carney play's the film out like listening to an album, knowing that the music is the key to the film. Having real musicians act in the film gives it believability and grounding that you wouldn't have got with actors. Glen Hansard play's the male lead effortlessly and you feel the songs he sings come from the heart, if you like acoustic music then this will certainly draw you in.

It's hard for me to find anything negative to say about the film, if I was pushed I'd say the only thing was the scenes with the recording of the songs in a studio. Having a sound engineer come with a negative attitude only to be moved by the songs felt a little clichéd.

It's hard to write about the film in good detail as there's very little too it, but by the time the credits roll you feel satisfied in the fact you've been engaged for eighty odd minutes and at times utterly enthralled.

- The DVD -

As mentioned, Once is a low budget film shot digitally and primarily handheld. The film doesn't have a glossed look about it, taking advantage of natural light. The look just adds to the grounding of the film. The transfer on DVD is good considering the material.

The sound mix is 2.0 but services the film perfectly. It's hard to see what dimension a 5.1 mix would bring to the film.

- Extras -

Two audio commentaries can be found on the disc, one features director and stars discussing the film with good detail and engaging comment. The second track gives more detail to the songs in the film.

Two featurettes cover the making of the film with some good interviews and behind the scenes footage. To be honest both could have been edited together as the content is pretty similar.
Finally there's a theatrical trailer.

- Finally -

Once is a great film done simply and will appeal to lovers of music anywhere. I'd happily fork out to own it and will be buying the soundtrack as the songs in the film are excellent.

Summary: Once is a film that I'd love to visit at least twice