Falling Slowly
January 28th, 2008 by screenwriterguy
I finally just saw the movie Once. Critics and bloggers I trusted wrote that it is one of the best films to come along in a years. They weren’t lying.
Once is not a complicated movie, not a major accomplishment in filmmaking, not likely to make your top 20. But it succeeds in being magical. That is so very, very rare, and it’s why this movie is special. I find myself suddenly with another reason to hope the writers’ strike reaches a peaceful conclusion faster: so that the Oscars will happen, so that “Falling Slowly” can win Best Original Song.
The Song category has become almost pointless, an extra trophy for whatever animated feature had some pop star kick out a sugary tune. This year seems to be different. We have three different Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast) songs from Enchanted nominated. I listened to them on the sample CD mailed out in Variety by Disney. They’re good. They’re clever. They are self-aware in a way that makes them much more deserving of gold than many of the Song winners. I haven’t seen Enchanted yet, nor have I seen August Rush, which includes the other nominated song, but I just can’t believe that any tune is going to top “Falling Slowly” as not only beautiful song in its own right, but also as a piece of music used magnificently to create moments and emotions in a film. That, to me, is what the category of Best Original Song should mean.
So, AMPTP, please pull your heads out and let the Oscars happen. Meanwhile, the Netflix envelope in which I received Once was not nearly worn out enough, people. Everyone go rent this movie.
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Posted in | 2 Comments »
Jan 29th 2008 at 3:11 pm
The only thing I don’t understand is that “Falling Slowly” is a pre-existing song. The main actor in the film, Glen Hasnard, is in a band called the Frames, and this song and a few others appear on their previous albums.
The lyrics are the same, the structure is basically the same. The only thing that is different is the instrumentation – a duet with acoustic guitar and piano instead of a rock band version.
That said, I hope it wins – it’s by far the best song nominated and “Once” is one of my favourite films of the year.
Feb 1st 2008 at 1:56 pm
Once was one of those movies I see a trailer for and shy away from. I’m not big on overly sappy love even though I feel that way about my wife 85% to 90% of the time. And if you throw in the “indie” feel of slow moving tracking shots and a lot of “off the shoulder” shooting — what can I say, I rarely tend to enjoy those types of films.
But after reading sparkling reviews and hearing that “Falling Slowly” song a few times, I decided to give it a chance. Once had me smiling throughout. Like you said, it ain’t complicated or high concept, it’s just humanity. You like the characters cause they are like you in so many ways, and you want them to succeed because you want to succeed yourself.
That song is constantly on my mental playlist — popping up to be hummed from time to time.
Matt,
There was a chance of the song being removed from contention, but for reasons unbeknownst to me they’re allowing it.