If you haven't had a chance to see the movie Once, I would do so this week. The incredibly annoying hypebole of the NY Times ads aside ("Once in a lifetime movie..."), this is a full-hearted moviemaking effort worth supporting,
AND...
it makes a great bookend to The Commitments. Not only is it a treat to see how Glen Hansard has matured musically, both movies provide a vastly different backdrop in Dublin. The 1991 Dublin depicted in the Roddy Doyle adaptation has neighborhoods with children playing around burned-out cars. Buskers alternate between picking up their "dole check" and auditioning for a longshot place in a band. The 2007 Dublin shown in Once frames the hardscrabble busker searching for a reason to stay in an ultra-gentrified Dublin. The "Miraculous American" who promises to pull the feckless Irish youth into stardom is replaced by the Eastern European immigrant who prods Irish diasporic dreams.
The movie can stand on its own incredible sweetness, but it is worth a look for so many reasons.
10 comments:
Cutting into my gig eh?
We had to read The Commitments for my Working Class Lit class in college. I haven't thought about the book (or the movie) in a while though. Have seen the ads in the NYTimes (and heard reviews on NPR) but wasn't planning on seeing Once until your post.
I've often wondered what our lives would be like if Gropius had pursued the Belfast job more aggressively. I think our cat would hate us....but Ireland is changing so quickly and it would be interesting to be located at the nexus of that evolution.
Dublin is still there, Kace. If you move there, I'm pretty sure that I'll be visiting at least as often as I get to Sacramento. Chop, chop!
Oh, and Sport, nobody could cut into your gig. Or should I say cut your jig?
I thought it was "the cut of your jib"...
Sounds like Once is thoughtful and charming. Mmm. My kind of movie.
LK, you are correct. I was "turning a triple play" on the pun (if you'll forgive the metaphor mix). Jib, jigsaw, jig. Traditional, definitional, and humorous. I like the imagistic similarities of a triangular sail, a thin bladed saw, and a knifing Irish dancer.
My mind just kind of works in funny associations. I hope your editorial self doesn't find it too distracting.
Oh Doc, ye giveth me not enough credit. I never correct in public -- just playing along. But I love the explication! Great fun!
I always assume you are up on your Britishisms. And Simpsonisms. And Oprahisms... (is there such a thing?)
Yeah, I'm also a pontificator. Dr. Pontification. That's me.
Thanks for playing along, tho. Is the film playing on your island?
No. Not playing here. :( It could still pop up -- films do that sometimes, but there's always the Netflix backup plan.
That's totally sad. We had the value added of hearing a pre-movie performance of The Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ (TM, of course https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8210258&postID=3647960073136806961 ). As the finale is winding to it's crashing conclusion,the Organ and Organist both sink into the orchestra pit. Quite a nice segue into a musical.
Sorry, the link to the organ is here.
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