My Review Of "Once" (2006)

How often do you find the right person?

One of my favorite quotes: None this time.

General Info:

Release Dates: Was in limited release on May 16 2007
Rated: R
Why is it rated that: For language
Writer/Director: John Carney
Official Site: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/once/

About the Film: Set in Dublin this romantic comedy focuses on a Vacuum Repairman/Irish street singer who makes more of a living singing on Grafton Street. Whilethere one night he meets a Chezslovikian girl who also works there selling flowers.There they talk about his music and what they like to do. He plays guitar and soonfinds out that she enjoys playing piano, and very well I might add. The two end upgathering a band together to work on making demo CD's to try to get an albumrecorded, while also trying to deal with their own personal lives and problems thatface them. However,I do not want to give too much information. I'll let you goand see the movie to find out for yourself.

Main Cast (In Order)
Alaistair Foley…. Bassist Dude
Catherine Hansard ….. Singer at party
Glen Hansard …. Guy
Markéta Irglová …. Girl
Kate Haugh …. Baby
Senan Haugh …. Husband
Leslie Murphy … Mother
Marcella Plunkett …. Ex Girlfriend

Trivia:

During the filming of the opening scene, because the scene was shot with long lenses placing the crew far away, and without informing the public, who would be crossing through the scene, a bystander attempting to be a hero accidentally injured the thief as he was running away by kneeing him in the groin.

The director and cast were suffering from "South Park" withdrawal during filming and thus one of the characters, a session musician, was named "Timmy" - this is obvious as they depart the studio.

The "look" of Dublin in the film is a call-back to John Carney's and Glen Hansard's recollection of Dublin 10-15 years prior to the film's making - a more working class city.

John Carney was previously a member of The Frames, the band led by Glen Hansard.
The story is partially autobiographical as John Carney lived in Dublin and maintained a long distance relationship with his girlfriend living in London

The flashback footage of Guy's girlfriend is actually that of director John Carney's girlfriend.
Glen Hansard's mother plays a cameo as one of the singers during the party.

What I would rate this movie
I would give this movie a 5/5. It was not only directed well, but it was shot well and the actors in it did an amazing job.

My Review Of Evening (2007)

Her Greatest Secret Was Her Greatest Gift
One of my favorite Quotes: " There's no such thing as a mistake. You get nervous, but you sing anyways." - Ann

General Info:
Release Date: 29 June 2007 (USA)

Rating: PG-13

Why is it rated that: For some thematic elements, sexual material, a brief accident scene and language.

Director: Lajos Koltai

Official Site: http://www.focusfeatures.com/evening

About The Movie:
The love which binds mother and daughter -- seen through the prism of one mother's life as it crests with optimism, navigates a turning point, and ebbs to its close. Overcome by the power of memory, Ann Lord reveals a long-held secret to her concerned daughters; Constance, a content wife and mother, and Nina, a restless single woman. Both are bedside when Ann calls out for the man she loved more than any other. But who is this "Harris," wonder her daughters, and what is he to our mother? While Constance and Nina try to take stock of Ann's life and their own lives, their mother is tended to by a night nurse as she journeys in her mind back to a summer weekend some fifty years before, when she was Ann Grant, a young woman who has come from New York City to be maid of honor at the high-society Newport wedding of her dearest friend from college, Lila Wittenborn. The bride-to-be is jittery, and turns to her maid of honor rather than her own mother for support. Ann stays close to her friend, yet is even closer to Lila's irrepressible brother Buddy. Unexpected feelings surge forth once Ann meets wedding guest Harris Arden, a lifelong friend and intimate of the Wittenborn family. Ann's love for Harris will change her life, and those of her daughters, forever.

(Written by Focus Features)

Main Cast (In Order)

Claire Danes Young Ann
Toni Collette Nina

Vanessa Redgrave Ann Grant Lor
Patrick Wilson Harris Arden
Hugh Dancy Buddy Wittenborn
Natasha Richardson Constance Lord
Mamie Gummer Young Lila Wittenborn
Eileen Atkins Mrs. Brown
Meryl Streep Lila Wittenborn
Glenn Close Mrs. Wittenborn

Trivia:
Keria Knightley was originally going to be cast as the Young Ann however due to her schedule with Pirates Of The Caribbean she didn't

What I thought about the film:
I liked this film very much. It was a real chick flick, so guys if you were thinkingabout seeing it I warn you now. However, when I saw it I did see a guy or two there.(They were probably dragged there by their wives/girlfriends). The cast was simplyamazing and really could act. I especially loved Toni Collett's character Nina, andher sarcastic yet charming way of dealing with her boyfriend, her mother,and hersister with her perfect life. Overall the film was great and I give it a 5/5 becauseof the amazing cast and how well the film was put together. Bravo to the director whotook the book and made it into this lovely film.