You know when a boy and girl meet, hit it off, but keep the relationship platonic — and it's sweet and memorable forever? This practically never happens in the movies. The last time it did (as far I can recall) was in "Once" back in 2006, directed by Ireland's John Carney.
"Once," made on a budget of €100,000, told the tale of a musician couple who meet, spend an intense week together making a demo CD and then part ways. The film was a megahit, and the songs the couple played lingered in the mind for a long time after the credits rolled. Carney went on to direct a few box-office duds after "Once," but he has rekindled the fire with his new film.
"Begin Again" is a whole different vehicle though, with a Hollywood budget, star wattage and the much bigger stage of Manhattan. But Carney keeps the charm intact and, as with "Once," the couple in the story are united by their love for music rather than personal or sexual issues — and we know how refreshing that can be. In fact, sex in the movies has become so in-your-face and ubiquitous nowadays, it's kind of hard to get excited.