Once (2007): A modern-day musical about a busker and an immigrant and their eventful week, as they write, rehearse and record songs that tell their love story.I heard very good reviews about this movie, so I was very excited to see this. I must say my high expectations were completely met.

After watching Hustle & Flow and Walk The Line I ran out and got the soundtracks. Watching Once I also want to find the soundtrack (haven’t got it yet), but the difference with the other two movies is that apart from the great music, Once is an excellent movie.

The story is very simple and it feels like a real story that anyone can experience in a lifetime. It’s an unpretentious story, not one of those overly dramatic stories that the Academy wants to award. Also not a comedy, although there are a few laughs.

I think the word I am looking for is endearing. After watching this movie I just felt good, not because I learned some important lesson or anything like that. I just felt good.

I also like the ending, another non-Hollywood ending that makes perfect sense to me, but I guess not to the studios.

And finally we get to the music. I am not a musician or follow the latest artists, but I do like music. I was so touched but the songs in this film, they were certainly a big part of that good feeling.

Glen Hansard is certainly a talented musician, and he also has a great voice. His passion for music really transpires throughout the movie. He really poured his soul out while singing Say it to me now at the beginning, although at first it might sound like he’s a bit crazy.

The first time Guy and Girl (they are not named in the film) play together is such a touching moment, to me that song (Falling Slowly) is the song of the movie, which is also played at the end. It’s their theme song.

My other favorite singing moment is the first studio recording. That song (When your mind’s made up) starts slowly, so the sound engineer doesn’t think much of it. In the middle of it he realizes that it’s actually not a bad song, but when the song reaches its climax with the whole band full on and his voice leading them, he realizes how good this is and smiles. Such a perfect scene.

There are many other songs, most of them just as good, some of them really made me tear up (The Hill). Too bad the title song (Once) is an important one in the movie. I can’t wait to get the soundtrack and listen to them 24/7.

This might be my favorite movie of the year, it just affected my life much more than others, especially thinks to the music. I hope everyone will seek out this movie and enjoy it as much as I did.

Rating: 5 Stars