Begin Again

Name: Begin Again
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance, Music
Released: June 27, 2014
Duration: 104 min
Rating: 62
Cast: Adam Levine, Hailee Steinfeld, Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo

2014

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 39 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 269 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 269 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Weinstein Company, The | Release Date: June 27, 2014 | R

Starring: Adam Levine, Hailee Steinfeld, Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo

Summary: Gretta (Keira Knightley) and her long-time boyfriend Dave (Adam Levine) are college sweethearts and songwriting partners who decamp for New York when he lands a deal with a major label. But the trappings of his new-found fame soon tempt Dave to stray, and a reeling, lovelorn Gretta is left on her own. Her world takes a turn for the betterGretta (Keira Knightley) and her long-time boyfriend Dave (Adam Levine) are college sweethearts and songwriting partners who decamp for New York when he lands a deal with a major label. But the trappings of his new-found fame soon tempt Dave to stray, and a reeling, lovelorn Gretta is left on her own. Her world takes a turn for the better when Dan (Mark Ruffalo), a disgraced record-label exec, stumbles upon her performing on an East Village stage and is immediately captivated by her raw talent. From this chance encounter emerges an enchanting portrait of a mutually transformative collaboration, set to the soundtrack of a summer in New York City. [The Weinstein Company]… Expand

Director: John Carney

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance, Music

Rating: R

Runtime: 104 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Drew McWeeny

May 31, 2014

John Carney, who wrote and directed "Once," has made another great film that focuses on songwriters and the way their lives influence their work. Read full review

Empire Ian Freer

Jun 23, 2014

Begin Again is a joyous movie about the good things in life: love, family, relationships, New York, creativity and music. And Knightley and Ruffalo make for one of the most unusual engaging couples of the year. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Jul 2, 2014

The music is hit-and-miss, and the movie sinks into as many cliches as it avoids. But the characters are appealing, and the storytelling is just unconventional enough to keep an audience guessing. Read full review

Keith Staskiewicz

Jun 26, 2014

"Once" was a small and well-loved heirloom, its imperfections part of the charm. But Begin Again has been burnished to a shiny dullness. Read full review

McClatchy-Tribune News Service Roger Moore

Jun 25, 2014

Writer-director John Carney re-plays his greatest hit with Begin Again, a semi-successful attempt to recreate the magic of the Oscar-winning musical “Once” in New York with a big name cast. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Jun 27, 2014

Most of the music is by New Radicals frontman Gregg Alexander, and it’s heartfelt without ever really touching the heart. Read full review

Film.com Laremy Legel

Sep 14, 2013

A film that inserts banal plot devices and endless cutesiness in place of where the “good parts” should be. Read full review

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User Reviews

liederess

Jul 27, 2014

Begin Again now holds a top spot among my favorite movies. The story evolves into a lovely, graceful celebration about the love between friends. Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley excel in creating and shaping characters that you hope to meet again. James Corden is also a delight!

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

jaro2096

Nov 10, 2014

An amazing coming age film starring Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo and Adam Levine. What else can we ask ?

An amazing musical coming age film well directed by John Carney an amazing director. This film is just brilliant due to the following reasons. First of all the movie is directedAn amazing coming age film starring Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo and Adam Levine. What else can we ask ?

An amazing musical coming age film well directed by John Carney an amazing director. This film is just brilliant due to the following reasons.

First of all the movie is directed brilliantly by John Carney ( the director of Once), making such emotive scenes, like the one in which Keira Knightley sings the song " A Step you can't Take Back " and Mark Ruffalo sees her for the first time playing her music.

The second important thing is the performances of Keira Knightley an amazing actress that does the singing job really well, since she is able to sing and rock. Also he character Gretta is really likable and really helps develop Mark Ruffalo's character Dan. The second thing is Mark Ruffalo performance making one of his best performance in my opinion dealing with problems and actually growing and developing his character through the movie. Finally Adam Levine known from the popular band Maroon 5 making he's debut as an actor making in a great way by adapting to the environment and to his characters situations really good, plus he is great singing.

The third thing is that this movie is brilliantly written by John Carney using time in a brilliant way to tell his story in amazing way. This script is really good since the characters due change through the movie, also the songs are really amazing and likable. Although the movie is cheesy sometimes the script is good in general since Carney uses time, well and his characters are really likable.

In general this is a great age coming film, that should be taken more seriously by critics since a 62 is not what it should have in my opinion. It is really sad that this movie will not be considered by the Academy Awards (Oscars) for a prize since this movie is totally a great summer blast and a great musical age coming film that will definitely make you buy the soundtrack of this movie. This movie is definitely 10 out of 10.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LizzyBennet

Jun 29, 2015

The first time I watched Begin Again, my heart melted as my ears and eyes kept wanting more. The cast was superb, and the songs were to-die-for. I cannot blame Adam Levine for his acting skills, but Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley gave the film a big 'bam!'. Honestly, their chemistry wasThe first time I watched Begin Again, my heart melted as my ears and eyes kept wanting more. The cast was superb, and the songs were to-die-for. I cannot blame Adam Levine for his acting skills, but Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley gave the film a big 'bam!'. Honestly, their chemistry was good and it was nice that the plot ending was not forced, like it all came down to victory for them all.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

horizonbts

Feb 20, 2015

The movie sets the table well, it just takes a while to put it all together! The acting and story is well over the top. I am beginning to love Keira Knightley more and more as I see her in different movies! Also Mark Ruffalo is at the top of his A list, and haven't seen him in really badThe movie sets the table well, it just takes a while to put it all together! The acting and story is well over the top. I am beginning to love Keira Knightley more and more as I see her in different movies! Also Mark Ruffalo is at the top of his A list, and haven't seen him in really bad movies either. In addition to all the previous, the music and scores are pleasing, so get the full effect and watch it in surround sound!! We simply need to have more movie like this with all the right elements, overall will go on the list of some of my favorites, and one I will pull off the DVD shelf and watch again some time!!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spangle

Jul 2, 2014

Overall, this one feels a bit magical and is quite heart warming. Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo are great and their chemistry with one another feels authentic. Hailee Steinfeld is also good in a supporting role here. Adam Levine, at times, shows his inexperience in acting and is severelyOverall, this one feels a bit magical and is quite heart warming. Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo are great and their chemistry with one another feels authentic. Hailee Steinfeld is also good in a supporting role here. Adam Levine, at times, shows his inexperience in acting and is severely outclassed, but never really seems like dead weight either. The characters are well put together, the story is told well, and as I just said, the overall experience is a feel good one. Nothing really overly unique and great about the film as a whole, but it works for what it is. However, the one area where the film is phenomenal is in its music. The songs in the film are magical and really click every single time. Watching them record them and then hearing the final product is a fun and enjoyable thing to see and to see them come together and express themselves doing so is another nice touch. Really, everything to do with the music here is pitch perfect.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

CineAutoctono

Nov 28, 2016

"Begin Again" was a funny movie, and the characters were very good in the movie, Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley, they were great, and the story is very good and very original.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LamontRaymond

Jun 28, 2014

This one left me flat. It doesn't hold a candle to the filmmakers previous work "Once", which had so much feeling and soul to it. Another thing that Once had going for it was amazing music, and tremendous singers. I love Knightly (and I love the rest of this amazing cast - with theThis one left me flat. It doesn't hold a candle to the filmmakers previous work "Once", which had so much feeling and soul to it. Another thing that Once had going for it was amazing music, and tremendous singers. I love Knightly (and I love the rest of this amazing cast - with the exception of Levine who I don't know much about), but she cannot carry the music. Her voice is average, and I couldn't get behind any of the songs. It's a problem. And the chemistry between Knightly and Ruffalo is just strange. It can't even touch the chemistry between Sandler and Vega in Spanglish - then again, that's a high bar. And I frankly just didn't get the ending at all.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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