Once director John Carney is hoping lightning will strike twice with this earnest little love song to New York, which may not set hearts (or the Academy) aflame the way his Dublin-set gem did, though it’s not without charms of its own.
Mark Ruffalo stars as a gifted but flailing record producer, who spots the recently dumped Keira Knightley singing at an open mic night in New York. Together they embark on a musical journey around the city, recording an album in subway stations, Central Park rowboats, and Manhattan back-alleys, both searching for their own brand of redemption.
All the hallmarks of Carney’s intelligent writing are here; interesting female characters (Hailee Steinfeld as Ruffalo’s precocious teenage daughter and Catherine Keener as his ex-wife); a romantic not-quite-romance; and an unabashed love of his location. One of the film’s best scenes sees Knightley and Ruffalo take a walk around Manhattan listening to the same playlist, and as ‘As Time Goes By’ and ‘For Once in My Life’ echo in their ears and the camera swoops and twirls around them, the whirlwind, dream-fuelled, fairytale energy of both the city and their project proves intoxicating.
Sadly, their own songs prove less inspiring than the classics. Though the sweet folksy tracks make for nice montages, there are only a few genuinely emotional moments, such as Ruffalo’s euphoric vision of backing music as Knightley sings, and Knightley’s angry, drunken revenge song to her now-famous ex (Adam Levine.) Ironically, the film’s message about the corrupting power of fame applies here: with bigger stars, a bigger budget and a bigger city, the powerful intimacy of Once is sacrificed for easy listening.
But with a charming story and a great setting, it’s easy watching too – just try to ignore the lingering, more affecting shadow of its predecessor.