Begin Again

Two damaged souls attempt to heal themselves through music in this uplifting crowd-pleaser from Once writer/director John Carney. The first is Dan (Mark Ruffalo), a washed-up record producer whose glory days are a distant memory. The second is Gretta (Keira Knightley), a British singer/songwriter heartbroken after splitting up with her boyfriend-cum-recording partner (real-life musician Adam Levine). Both their lives are changed for the better, however, when Dan witnesses Gretta performing on stage and persuades her to record an album on the streets of New York. The characters talk about artistic integrity, and are quick to condemn the manufactured studio approach, but the film itself is just as commercial as it is authentic. Still, some of the original songs are lovely, and the cast acquit themselves well - James Corden nabs some laughs as Gretta's busker friend - while the always excellent Ruffalo delivers plenty of rumpled charm.