Quick DVD Review: Once

In 2006 I listed my top movies of the year only to see a few post January 1st that literally obliterated my list. Yesterday I saw my first movie in 2008 that has definitely upset my best of 2007 list, Once.

Once first came to my attention over the late summer. While Across the Universe was the musical getting all the attention, Once was quietly getting 4-star reviews and award season buzz. Sadly like most small films the window at more local multiplex was short to nonexistent so I had to resign myself to the DVD experience. Turns out I think the film benefits from TV. It’s an intimate film experience like no other. I haven’t felt this narratively claustrophobic since Closer a couple years back. First time director John Carney has created a voyeuristic experience that keeps you at a distance unless song is involved then, like the characters, he brings you in close revealing the very core of the film. Of course that brings us to the music. How people describe this as a musical is a mystery to me? The songs always make real world logical sense and no one ever steps out of the dry cleaners singing about mustard on their shirt. The only way you can see this as a musical is in the fact that most of the truth of the film comes through in the music. This hauntingly realistic tale of a couple that can’t be a couple and may not want to be a couple is told through dialogue where people dance around what they mean. However once the songs start to play you see the characters naked truths exposed to each other and themselves. It also doesn’t hurt that the music is bloody brilliant. Very Damian Rice with a bit more kick. The musician/actors all give solid performances that again feel so natural you some times feel uncomfortable that you’re watching. Once is a complete movie in every sense of the word and it’s now one of my top 5 films of 2007.