Begin Again

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Rob A Dec 6 An adorable tale of addiction, betrayal and redemption with Keira Knightley showcasing a surprisingly lovely singing voice. There's plenty of Adam Levine (Maroon 5) for fans to enjoy as well. A top 10 hidden gem. See more Alex P @dquiinn Dec 3 counter review: to "Agata S" who didn't get this film :) No idea what "zero emotional accountability" even means lol I see a film gently crawling out of its own wreckage with a guitar in hand, which is frankly more accountability than most humans manage on a Tuesday. Dan does grow. Not by becoming a new man (newsflash: humans don’t molt), but by being forced to confront his own static mess in a world that stopped indulging him. That isn’t a "shortcut"; that’s what real midlife reform looks like, small, stubborn shifts disguised as the same old guy trying again with slightly less self-sabotage. As for Dan and Greta’s "forced romantic tension," I must have blinked and missed the part where they actually became romantic. The whole charm is that they don’t. They orbit, they inspire, they collide creatively. Begin again doesn’t "gloss over" anything, it just refuses to punish its characters for being flawed. It chooses compassion over cynicism See more Agata S Nov 30 Lovely opening. Zero emotional accountability. The first act has so much promise — a grounded creative story about picking yourself up through music. But as the film goes on, it stops caring about emotional honesty. Dan doesn’t grow — his context shifts to flatter him. He stays the same man with the same flaws, but once his ego is revived and his talent is validated, we’re supposed to accept that as "redemption." It’s not a character arc — it’s a narrative shortcut. The relationship between Dan and Greta starts as paternal and collaborative — then forced romantic tension gets shoved in and undermines everything that made their bond refreshing. But the most uncomfortable misstep is the father–daughter storyline. Violet’s body is treated like a moral issue, and her self-worth becomes tied to making herself less "provocative" for male comfort. Greta even joins in, which makes the message worse: a teenage girl must alter her appearance to earn approval and finally be loved. That’s a deeply outdated and harmful trope, and the film plays it as a heartwarming breakthrough. I love Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley — they’re endlessly charming and usually have great instincts — but I’m honestly shocked that neither of them seemed to notice how awful some of those lines sound when spoken to a teenage girl. I know actors don’t write the script, but delivering that dialogue sincerely would have made me stop and ask, "Why are we telling this story like it’s sweet?" Begin Again wants the emotional payoff without the emotional work. It uses music and happy vibes to gloss over toxic patterns instead of breaking them. See more Marquis H. @MWNumbers Nov 30 Great songwriting and great storytelling! How did it take me 14 years to find it. Unbelievably fantastic! See more Alexander S Oct 20 Begin Again literally feels like a breath of fresh air, like sipping coffee and strumming a guitar on a whole new sunny morning. Its uplifting message encourages us to take a step back, focus on the positive, and connect with others when faced with adversity. With its talented cast, including Kiera Knightly, Mark Ruffalo, Hailee Steinfield, and Adam Levine, this film is a treat to watch, filled with great music and a heartwarming story about hitting the reset button. Grading: A- See more Meta M @Metaman Jul 27 Begin again is a well crafted comedy drama with superb performances. The characters are multilayered and very relatable. The films takes the time to explore complex relationships whether romantic or genetic whilst showcasing the innovation of musical talent, brought to life by an impressive cast. It’s also refreshing to see a film actually shot in New York. Director John Carney captures the beauty of the big apple in very subtle ways. A city that never sleeps, the famous setting almost feels like a character in the film. The writing is excellent, each subplot is intricately explored and each character arc is fully defined. The film is also grounded in tone making it feel even more authentic and tangible from a storytelling perspective. A good watch especially for music lovers and creative artists. See more Read all reviews

Begin Again

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