Mark Ruffalo (from Buffalo) plays a washed up record executive. Keira Knightley plays a talented songwriter who has just broken up with her boyfriend (Adam Levine). Ruffalo and Knightley find each other and start their creative journey together. Ruffalo has to repair his marriage to Catherine Keener and his relationship with his troubled teenage daughter played by Hailee Steinfeld. Knightley has to find her voice and make an album of her songs. Ruffalo comes up with the idea of making the album around New York City. There are plenty of great scenes of Knightley and her band playing their songs in classic NYC locales. Director John Carney, who had a hit with Once, strikes gold again with Begin Again. In a summer of disappointing movies, Begin Again is the Real Deal. GRADE: A-
George, I’ll be seeing this film as I generally like romantic and musical comedies, and Mark Ruffalo is a talented actor. He threw me off in “Now You Can See Me.”
That’s “Now You See Me” actually.
Prashant, I knew that.
Prashant, I really enjoyed Mark Ruffalo’s performance as Bruce Banner (The Hulk) in THE AVENGERS. And I can’t wait to see what Ruffalo does in THE AVENGERS 2.
To be honest I’m not a big fan of most of the actors but it sounds like something we’d rent or watch on HBO or showtime.
Jeff, I’m sure you and Jackie will recognize all the NYC sites where they record their songs.
I’ve liked Ruffalo is several things, including You Can Count on Me, The Kids Are All Right and The Normal Heart. He can make a not necessarily likeable guy surprisingly sympathetic.
Jeff, I really like Ruffalo’s performance in THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT.
It seems to be on Movies on Demand so we’ll see.
Jeff, BEGIN AGAIN has a leisurely pace. Be prepared for the movie to unfold deliberately.
We finally got to see Dawn of the Planet of the Apes today.
Jeff, DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES has garnered good reviews. What did you and Jackie think of it?
Good one. They do a remarkable job. You forget they aren’t really apes and they are worlds away from Roddy McDowall in an ape mask.