ONCE UPON A NEW YORK AVENUE // A FILM REVIEW OF "BEGIN AGAIN"

BY W. DEREK JORDEN

What a feel-good New York movie! BEGIN AGAIN, written and directed by John Carney (Once) is a story about the beautiful redemption one can find in this great city. After defeats and major failures, bad habits and too many hungover mornings strung together, you can pick yourself up by the bootstraps, trust your skills and intuitions, mix in equal parts hard work, scary risk, and passionate pursuit and good things will come. 

That’s what happens with Dan Mulligan (Mark Ruffalo). After he gets fired from the record label he co-founded and ditched by his wife because of his consistent shenanigans, he hears a sound on a drunken night at Arlene’s Grocery that starts to turn it all around. That sound is the angelic voice of singer/songwriter Gretta James (Kiera Knightley) who is in town providing moral and writing support for her boyfriend Dave Kohl (Adam Levine) as he is recording a new hit album himself. Cool shaggy-mopped blazer-wearing classic-Jaguar-driving Dan hears something special in pretty Gretta, and as Dave sells out to the music industry, Dan and Gretta stay true to their hearts. It pays off.

The soundtrack, mostly written by Gregg Alexander will undoubtedly receive some attention as it is not only a number of catchy songs that could stand well on their own, but well in tune with the vibe of the movie. As a rom-com musical, there are several music industry faces that pop up. It’s Adam Levine’s first time acting in a movie and you can tell; it’s Kiera Knightley’s first time singing in a movie but she does well; Mos Def plays Mulligan’s record label co-founder; CeeLo Green plays big time producer TroubleGum and is funny; even James Corden (amateur opera singer in last year’s One Chance) does a great job as Gretta’s best friend making us laugh between his busking sessions in Union Square.

Ruffalo and Knightley have an exciting chemistry together that begins in amicability, grows to a delightful fondness and serious trust and even teeters for a moment on the edge of romantic. They work together to make an album that, in the world of the film, will bring joy and inspiration to an entire city, and to make a movie, in this world, that did the same. 

DEREK'S GRADE: A

Written and Directed by John Carney Starring Kiera Kightley, Mark Ruffalo, James Corden and Adam Levine

Rated R

FINAL THOUGHTS: With a soundtrack that will rival some of the best indie pop albums this year layered on top of great shots from recognizable spots all around the city and meaningful performances from Ruffalo, Knightley and Corden, this movie will reinvigorate what you came to this city to do: follow your dreams.

W. DEREK JORDEN is an actor currently living and working in New York City. He and his wife live on a Spaceship on the top of a building, which makes for some interesting dinner parties.