Movie Review: Begin Again

BEGIN AGAIN

Release Date: July 2nd 2014 (in select theaters)
Studio: The Weinstein Company
Director: John Carney
Screenwriter: John Carney
Main Cast: Kiera Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Hailee Steinfeld, Adam Levine, James Corden, Yasmin Bey, Cee Lo Green, Catherine Keener
Genre: Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance
MPAA rating: R for language

Official Sites: Website | Facebook

Storyline: The latest film from writer-director John Carney (ONCE), BEGIN AGAIN is a soul-stirring comedy about what happens when lost souls meet and make beautiful music together. Gretta (Keira Knightley) and her long-time boyfriend Dave (Adam Levine) are college sweethearts and songwriting partners who decamp for New York when he lands a deal with a major label. But the trappings of his new-found fame soon tempt Dave to stray, and a reeling, lovelorn Gretta is left on her own. Her world takes a turn for the better when Dan (Mark Ruffalo), a disgraced record-label exec, stumbles upon her performing on an East Village stage and is immediately captivated by her raw talent. From this chance encounter emerges an enchanting portrait of a mutually transformative collaboration, set to the soundtrack of a summer in New York City. BEGIN AGAIN is produced and financed by Exclusive Media and produced by Anthony Bregman, Tobin Armbrust and Judd Apatow.

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Begin Again is a great movie to see this summer with friends or as a date-night choice with your significant other. The film caters to everyone. It has the right blend of romance, drama, music and laughter to satisfy any movie goer. I was thoroughly entertained from beginning to end.

The film follows Gretta (Kiera Knightley) who packed up with her boyfriend Dave (Adam Levine) to move to New York when Dave gets a major record deal. Everything seems to be working out but little by little Dave’s work schedule and new-found fame begin to affect their relationship. Then one day Gretta figures out something about Dave and leaves him. She sets off to find her old friend Steve and stays with him until she can fly back to Europe. Steve takes Gretta with him to an open mic night he is a regular at and like a good friend that he is, he puts Gretta on the spot. Gretta ends up singing one of her own songs that she wrote and as fate would have it. Dan a record label executive happens to be drowning his sorrows away that night at the same location hears Gretta singing. Dan is immediately inspired and can pictured Gretta going far with her music.

Yes Dan is or was this big shot record executive, but drinking has ruin his career. He has been kicked out of his own company he started with a friend. Even his relationship with his daughter is hardly existent. But running into Gretta has inspired him and when he convinces Gretta not to leave and stay and work with him in creating her music, Gretta ends up trusting in him and stays. This is when the real magic begins. They come up with this awesome idea to record her original songs outside in different areas of New York City. When this happens, it takes the movie to a whole other level of awesome. When that moment begins its sets off other things in motion and you’ll have to watch the film to see what happens next with everyone.

Everyone brought something great to their characters and the music was fantastic. Keira Knightley has a pretty great voice and we all know that Adam Levin can sing. Cee Lo shows off his funny side and the snarky lines from Mark Ruffalo are on point. Like I mentioned before, it’s a movie from everyone. I left the theater wanting to see the movie again. Your summer-fall-in-love movie.