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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (July 31, 2014)
MOVIES B Y M O L LY T E M P L E T O N M ARK RUFFALO AND K EIR A K NIGHTLE Y piano and drums and strings lifting the song into another realm. Dan introduces himself, and the resulting conversation essentially fills the rest of the film. In some ways, Begin Again is a musical Cinderella story from another era, and its unsubtle critique of the music industry feels wedged in and already dated. But this Cinderella doesn’t want to be a pop-star princess, and she comes with baggage of Begin Again is a pleasant, musical rehash looking at the art of relationships her own: Her ex-boyfriend and songwriting partner (played by an unexpectedly likable Adam Levine) ohn Carney’s Once (2007) was a lovely, intimate film, the story of two musicians whose romance played out artistically. has left her for the big time. Both Dan and Gretta are essentially couch-surfing through rough Once is now a Broadway powerhouse, made a little tidier but no less affecting, and Carney is back with a movie that’s patches of varying lengths. Their collaboration, more than their almost Once again: two drifting, lovelorn souls brought unconsummated attraction, is what matters, and what works magic, pulling in other musicians, making something new and making it in a together through musical collaboration. Begin Again, though, has slightly sharper edges, and its heartbroken new way. Begin Again is a quiet charmer and not without missteps — a night- heroine an occasionally tarter tongue. In an opening sequence that loops back on itself from different perspectives, worn-out, bitter in-New York sequence feels borrowed from some other movie, its music-biz pro Dan (a bedraggled Mark Ruffalo) gets kicked out of the musical choices and images oddly generic — but it works thanks to company he co-founded — in front of his sullen daughter (Hailee Carney’s gift for complicated relationships, and his focus on the place Steinfeld), no less. He makes his sodden, despondent way to a bar at where artistic and emotional connections layer on each other. Everyone which a very reluctant Gretta (Keira Knightley) has been badgered into in this movie seems to be a little bit in love, and never more so than playing one of her songs. Dan hears something other than simple when they’re recording on a rooftop in the city, going gorgeously acoustic guitar and plaintive vocals; he imagines an entire arrangement, against the grain of how things are supposedly supposed to be done. ■ ONCE MORE, WITH FEELING J LIFE ITSELF Bombastic, charismatic and iconic through and through, Roger Ebert was the Muhammad Ali of film criticism, a man whose face and voice became synonymous with our modern pastime of going to the movies. Life Itself, despite its flaws, is a fascinating document of a complicated artist whose work was, by turns, righteously opinionated, accessibly populist and always, at bottom, disarmingly frank and humane. At the core of the film is Ebert’s relationship with Gene Siskel, the rival Chicago Tribune critic who became his sparring partner on At The Movies, the beloved show that brought both men to global recognition. Their relationship is the stuff of deep drama, a clash of titans that crackles with antagonism, intellectual one- upmanship, wicked humor and the grudging love of brothers. (Bijou Metro) OBVIOUS CHILD Obvious Child is, as you may have heard, an abortion comedy. But that’s not exactly true: It’s not About Abortion, in the afterschool- special, other-movies-I-shall-not-name way. It’s about Donna Stern (Jenny Slate), a twentysomething comedian by night and bookstore employee by day. Bawdy and genuine, Donna is a character so messily, perfectly balanced between vulnerability and humor that we’re always laughing with her, not at her; there’s no cruelty in writer-director Gillian Robespierre’s deft, affecting, intelligent and honest brand of comedy. Obvious Child is a quiet movie, in a way; no one needs saving, and everyone’s going to be OK. But it feels like a big film all the same. (Bijou Metro) unplug for EugFun! THUR AUG 1 - WED AUG 6 3 Aug. 6 Aug. 8 Aug. Sunday Jam: Dancin’ in the Park Local DJ’s spin funk and soul in the sun! Sladden Park, N. Adams & Cheshire 2:00-6:00 pm Downtown Dodgeball Rock & Dodge Theme: 80’s Hairband Kesey Square, 6:00-8:00 pm ALL E V ENTS A R FREE Co-presented by Playground Sports Team registration fee $30 BAD WORDS 3:50 + 7:10* ENEMY 3:50 CUBAN FURY 5:25 THE DOUBLE 7:10* MOONRISE KINGDOM 5:25 + 8:50 UNDER THE SKIN 8:50 E *NO SHOW 7/31 TONIGHT JULY 31 • 7:00PM BLACK & WHITE PARTY Movie: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Rated G, 144 minutes University Park, 23rd & University St. 9pm-ish Calendar & event details at EugFun.org sponsorED BY Cultural Services read us online at eugeneweekly.com eugeneweekly.com • July 31, 2014 21
