Movie Review: Once

Movies like Once, happen ...well, just once in awhile. A 2007 Sundance darling, Once is a unique love story set in Ireland. The film is a departure from the regular summer blockbusters and yes, it is a musical- thats right, a musical, but not the break out into song with jazz hands type musicals we're used to. If there were to be a mellow indie rock musical where the songs fit into the story line of writing and recording music, Once is that movie. And its beautiful- both the story and the music that serves as its soundtrack, which one should get/download regardless of seeing the film.

Starring Glen Hansard of the band The Frames, Czech musician Marketa Irglova and written and directed by The Frames base player John Carney, Once is a love story between people as well as their music. Hansard plays a simple, hard working and talented street musician who is still singing break up songs about his ex. Irglova is a poor Czech immigrant, who can play piano and teams up with Hansard, adding layers to his already emotional melodies. Once takes place over a week of writing, rehearsing, and recording both in and out of the studio and gives way to a sweeping soundtrack featuring Hansard and Irglova throughout. In fact, Hansard and Irglova have formed their own band in real life, The Swell Season and are currently touring. Make sure to check out the songs "If You Want Me" and "When Your Minds Made Up" from the soundtrack.

Photo provided by the official Once website