Once

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: May 16, 2007

8.2	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 380 Ratings

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User Reviews

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ChaseMay 25, 2007

The only reason to see this is for the music. Frankly, I've seen better stories in concert films. I went expecting to see a Musical, meaning something where the music is used to tell the story, but that's not really what's The only reason to see this is for the music. Frankly, I've seen better stories in concert films. I went expecting to see a Musical, meaning something where the music is used to tell the story, but that's not really what's going on here. In this movie, the characters are composers and performers and the music is what they do, all out of proportion to telling a story. This is more like watching a CD with brief narrative interludes.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

KirstenCSep 15, 2007

I liked the movie somewhat--did find the story a little forced and the repetitiveness of the music annoying....the male character drove me crazy and couldn't help thinking that if the Eastern European girl ended up with with him, their I liked the movie somewhat--did find the story a little forced and the repetitiveness of the music annoying....the male character drove me crazy and couldn't help thinking that if the Eastern European girl ended up with with him, their relationship would always be centered around him, his life, his career, etc...other than the nice gesture at the end, it was all about him.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

TacoJun 11, 2007

A very NICE movie, with some very NICE songs.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

csw12May 19, 2013

Takes about half way into the film for the characters to gel but once they do it is a satisfying movie that uses music to give it a heartwarming touch.

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RobertBroganOct 5, 2015

Once is a film I do not have the heart to downrate because at least the male lead is making an effort. But overall, it comes off as amateur and I am not feeling the vibe of the film. The scenario is like Lost in Translation but there is noOnce is a film I do not have the heart to downrate because at least the male lead is making an effort. But overall, it comes off as amateur and I am not feeling the vibe of the film. The scenario is like Lost in Translation but there is no chemistry and if there is no chemistry, what does it matter what happens? Still, it is an OK film, short, and not difficult to get through.… Expand

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DavidRFeb 6, 2008

Talk about doing the right thing in the end? Going back to a woman who cheated on you and who sounds like she wants to throw up while talking on the phone with you? And going back to an out of shape unattractive guy you don't even care Talk about doing the right thing in the end? Going back to a woman who cheated on you and who sounds like she wants to throw up while talking on the phone with you? And going back to an out of shape unattractive guy you don't even care about just because he's from the Czech Republic unlike the younger, more attractive man you've recently fallen in love with? Give me a break. Good music but the worst ending since The Godfather Part 3.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

RobertW.Sep 22, 2007

There are only two movies this year that I haven't enjoyed to a certain extent. This was one of them. I'm sure it will be nominated and possibly win for Best Original Screenplay, but there was no screenplay. Just songs being played There are only two movies this year that I haven't enjoyed to a certain extent. This was one of them. I'm sure it will be nominated and possibly win for Best Original Screenplay, but there was no screenplay. Just songs being played interminably. Still, I would rather have listened to the music than had the silly story that went along with it. This movie is not the reason I go to movies.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

JimSamuelsonJun 11, 2007

The language was unnecessarily crude for such a sweet story. The music was not that great, but the acting and the story made it worth NOT walking out - which was our initial reaction in the first five minutes. We stayed and our score wentThe language was unnecessarily crude for such a sweet story. The music was not that great, but the acting and the story made it worth NOT walking out - which was our initial reaction in the first five minutes. We stayed and our score went from an initial 1- up to a 5.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MeganS.Feb 6, 2008

It was mildly entertaining and definitely had some songs that stuck in my head. However, the dialogue and story line lacked cohesiveness and fluidity, among other things. The ending definitely helped the movie, IMO, but otherwise, I It was mildly entertaining and definitely had some songs that stuck in my head. However, the dialogue and story line lacked cohesiveness and fluidity, among other things. The ending definitely helped the movie, IMO, but otherwise, I wasn't entirely impressed.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

CharlottePApr 13, 2011

A slight, rather unimpressive story; a sense of puzzlement overcame me every time they sang a song because frankly the songs weren't as great as the viewer was being invited to anticipate.

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DougD.Jun 2, 2007

I'm completely baffled by the fellow reviews on this site. You must consider this movie a musical if you want to take its reviews seriously, because the plot moves at such a snail's pace that it's hard to become engaged at all I'm completely baffled by the fellow reviews on this site. You must consider this movie a musical if you want to take its reviews seriously, because the plot moves at such a snail's pace that it's hard to become engaged at all with this movie. Not until the halfway point do the two lead's finally start to gel a bit (along with the first plot revelation). We are supposed to find the Czech immigrant's willingness to drag a vaccum cleaner around Dublin as well as her poor fashion sense as cute and endearing, but it felt forced by Carney in my opinion, like a poor man's Sam from Garden State. I feel that musicians will feel much more positively about this movie than I did, and that it must deliver something to them that it didn't bring to me. If that's the case, then may they enjoy it, because personally I haven't felt this lost at a movie since "My Summer of Love," another highly praised movie that I walked away from wondering what I missed.… Expand

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RobertKDec 24, 2007

I honestly don't get it. The movie had its cute moments but overall I was bored to tears. I don't see how this movie was a great romantic wonder. I'm sorry it just didn't register with me at all.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

RorypDec 19, 2007

At the end of the day, if you are a fan of Glen Hansard and his music, you will like this film. If, like me, you think his music (especially that solo album) is a lifeless poncy strut down the overly maligned singer songwriter route At the end of the day, if you are a fan of Glen Hansard and his music, you will like this film. If, like me, you think his music (especially that solo album) is a lifeless poncy strut down the overly maligned singer songwriter route (maligned here in ireland mainly BECAUSE of glen and his many troops of similarly tortured songs-from-a-room shitehawks who invaded the country a few years back) you will not like this film very much. The performances are grand, especially Glen, who has more experience in this area then Irglova. It has the occasional bit of humour and pathos that rings true and it… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

JW.Jul 17, 2007

This movie had all the best intentions and deserves credit if only for crafting a heartwarming story on such a small budget with very clever direction. My main problems with it are that it's overly sentimental to a fault and that the This movie had all the best intentions and deserves credit if only for crafting a heartwarming story on such a small budget with very clever direction. My main problems with it are that it's overly sentimental to a fault and that the music is so very, er, how do I put this... Coldplay. And I don't mean that in a good way.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

FilipeNetoMay 5, 2021

The action of this film takes place in Dublin, Ireland, and shows the story of a young man, willing to be a musician, who plays in the streets. There, he meets a beautiful immigrant girl who is also attracted to the world of music. Both areThe action of this film takes place in Dublin, Ireland, and shows the story of a young man, willing to be a musician, who plays in the streets. There, he meets a beautiful immigrant girl who is also attracted to the world of music. Both are young, and the romantic attraction between them gradually becomes more obvious, despite the fact that she has a husband in her country (the Czech Republic) and he has a girlfriend who recently moved to London without him.

It is a relatively simple story, where two young people cultivate common interests and a friendship that may, or may not, lead to something more. For me, and although the film manages to avoid cheap sentimentality and empty and worn out romantic clichés, it is a very scarce script for a feature film, and on several occasions I felt that the film did not have a story to tell, just a succession of melodies and songs that were appearing one after the other, and that I felt were there to fill space and time. The film is very sweet, romantic and light, but it is not incredible, and I feel that it was also overestimated by the critics, especially since it was nominated for the Oscar for Best Original Song (which, by the way, it came to collect).

The cast's work is heavily penalized by the absence of material to work with and by a set of characters that were only slightly outlined and underdeveloped. The two co-protagonists, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, nevertheless, did a job that can be considered decent: they look quite natural and their chemistry is good, although neutral and drowned out by their gifts as singers.

Technically, the film has ups and downs, but the very low production budget does not allow for great flights. The sound and the soundtrack clearly stand out, with some very high quality songs (the highlight goes, of course, to the song "Falling Slowly") and others that seem somewhat improvised. What I hated the most ended up, therefore, being the use of hand-held cameras and a shaky and tiring cinematography.… Expand

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