"Begin Again" at Durham Library Thursday

Movie Notes by Don Bourret

Begin Again is a lovely romantic comedy, perhaps one of the happiest films you will have seen all year. But you would not guess that from the way it begins.

Dan Mulligan (Mark Ruffalo) is an alcoholic record executive who has just been fired. He wanders into an East Village open-mic club and hears Gretta (Keira Knightley) giving a sad, dismal performance of one of her songs. But Dan spies a raw talent in Gretta and a unique sound, and he pursues her with the idea of a collaboration on an album recorded all over New York City with the city’s sounds as its background. He sees it as a way to get back into the business; she sees it as the way to get back – period – at Dave (megastar singer Adam Levine in his first movie role) who dumped her when his singing career took off. They both were at such low points in their lives that they had nowhere to go but up; but they don’t just go up, they soar and pull you along for the ride. I knew nothing about this movie or what to expect before seeing it, which made it such a pleasant surprise.

The film is an ode to creativity and its power to redeem, to keep you alive and going in times of trouble. And it is a glorious love letter to New York. The scenes of their recording sessions with the pick-up crews they recruit are rousing and often funny: on street corners, in alleyways, on rooftops, in the subway – anywhere they could find enough time to set up and record before authorities chased them away. Sure, there is a hokey, totally unrealistic Mickey and Judy “let’s put on a show” enthusiasm going on here. But thanks to the likeability and charm of its two stars, as well as the New York locales, that enthusiasm is infectious and sinks its hooks into you.

There is a long sequence in which they spend a day wandering all over the city – to places it would take ordinary mortals a week to cover - connected by ear buds with a splitter and listening to each other’s playlists. Never has the City been so beautifully presented to us, as good or better of anything Woody Allen has done, and with a killer soundtrack. The segment is magical.

The film was written and directed by John Carney, the Irishman who a few years ago gave us the beautiful, award-winning film Once about two street singers in Dublin. Once was turned into a Broadway musical that won eight Tonys in 2012, including Best Musical. I readily predict a repeat of that with Begin Again.

If you love New York and appreciate the creative process, this film will lift your spirits, a real treat for the holidays. And if you get hold of the DVD, check out its Bonus Features for a fascinating look at how they filmed all over town. Also listen to two versions of the film’s signature song “Lost Stars,” one by Adam Levine and one by non-singer Keira Knightley in her surprisingly sweet voice.