The films of John Carney

​One cannot look back at the career of Scottish director Bill Forsyth without celebrating his influence on other independent filmmakers across the pond. The ripples from his success have been felt across Great Britain and in 2007 crested upon the shores of Ireland. 
 
Ladies and gentlemen, we salute John Carney. This Irish filmmaker, and former rock bassist, has a healthy dose of Bill Forsyth’s independent streak but substitutes the Scot’s magical with a healthy dose of realism. 

​Carney first hit, Once (2007), starred newcomers Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. This musical film, made on a shoestring budget of less than 100,000 Euros, was photographed with two borrowed camcorders and quite successfully put this filmmaker on the map. Taking a page directly from the playbook of Forsyth, there is no antagonist that drives this picture but the slow revealing of the characters that keeps us entertained and in our seats. The backdrop of Dublin serves the story well as if it is daring the characters to try and get out.
 
Once again, Hollywood studios are shown that a “little film” can have heart and still do boffo business.
 
“I like 'Guys and Dolls,' 'Singin' in the Rain' and 'A Star Is Born.' When it works, a musical is an amazing thing. But it rarely works.”
 
Already in a relatively young career, Carney has over 19 nominations here and abroad and 13 wins.

​In 2013 and Carney comes back with a film shot in New York. Carney sucks it up and decides to used established talent. His stars for Begin Again are Mark Ruffalo and Kiera Knightly and his choice for the latter was not without controversy.
 
“I don’t want to rubbish Keira, but you know it’s hard being a film actor and it requires a certain level of honesty and self-analysis that I don’t think she’s ready for yet and I certainly don’t think she was ready for on that film,”
 
Carney later apologized. The fact is, he was wrong about Knightly. She is quite good as the heartbroken songwriter and plays off Ruffalo’s down and out music producer quite nicely. Despite some dark backstory, Begin Again has a lighter and audiences immediately responded to the story above, love, loss and most importantly music. The opening introductions of the two major characters are both original and the follow-through is nothing short of brilliant. Plus, it had some pretty decent music by none other than Adam Levine. Not bad for a guy who only a few years back was playing bass in a band called The Frames.

​“It's very hard to tell an actor, 'Stop acting.' It's easy to tell a non-actor, because they're embarrassed when they act. They get ashamed when they do something cliche, whereas an actor is happy.”
 
The jewel in this trifecta of independent filmmaking is Sing Street. With a cast of mostly unknowns and original tunes, Carney returns to Dublin with a little film is the perfect blend of both heart and wit. The evolution of this little ragtag band of 80’s musician wannabes is truly something to behold. The music is more than memorable, and the homemade videos of the band are hilarious. The dialogue is natural and never forced and the entire film carries on the legacy of heart inspired by all of the films before it. 
 
I cannot recommend this series of films by John Carney enough. 

​Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. As far movies into musicals, Carney has Forsyth beat. Once has already received the full Broadway treatment and Sing Street is already playing on Off Broadway.