Begin Again (6/10)

From the same writer-director that brought us the intimate and sweet Once back in 2006, that introduced the world to the hauntingly beautiful lyrics and melody of Falling Slowly; John Carney is hoping to reinvent that success with a bigger production and budget with Begin Again.

And with this budget, he was also able to attract huge names like Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo and Catherine Keener; all of whom delivered in their acting performances.

But when it comes to singing, Knightley just didn't quite hit the spot. Let's just take the most recent movie with a lot of singing, Inside Llewyn Davis not only was a class of its own, but that whole singing live while recording concept elevated the movie to another level. And evidently has spoiled the market for me.

Knightley's singing clearly sounded recorded, and her voice was soft and weak. And the fakeness of it all just doesn't appeal to me anymore. Especially when Adam Levine started singing the same song, the quality was so apparent.

Plus with these kinds of recording, they can take me out of the movie, just like how dubbed movies lose the immersion factor.

Adam Levine has quite a substantial role in this movie, but he was just playing himself mostly. Even when he talked, it's as if I'm watching an episode of The Voice; though he did get slightly better as the movie progressed. What I appreciated about him was he didn't mind making himself look silly with all that facial hair going on. So even if his acting wasn't impressive, at least he didn't take himself too seriously.

Hailee Steinfeld's subplot was done quite succinctly. Carney didn't delve on it too much or made it too long, and it wrapped up very nicely too. And James Corden was a fine addition to the cast as he was quite the scene stealer.

What I would have liked was a more realistic approach to the musical side of things. That going through a playlist on the phone segment I thought was a waste of time. And to have Knightley and Ruffalo putting on earphones inside a club was just ridiculous. I can barely hear myself talk every time I come out of a club, what good would earphones be?

And the whole idea of recording music outside was a fine notion, but again the realism of it all sometimes just didn't do it for me.

But what I really liked was the ending. I thought it ended the way it should have ended and I was completely satisfied.