Once, the Best Movie You've Never Heard Of

The story can be summed up in a sentence: a pair of musicians meet on the street and soon realize that they can make beautiful music together. What you can't get from that is how sweet, funny and poetic it is. It's made simply and with heart and avoids cliches just like the scruffy mutt that it is.

A large part of its glory (don't worry, this film is completely immune to being over-hyped, because it's just that solid and appealing) is the fact that the two stars are not actors who try to play music, but are, instead, real musicians who act. That's not to say, however, that the acting is bad because it absolutely is not. They behave naturally and organically and the film fits them like a perfect harmony.

How is that even possible? You may well ask. Well, it helps that the stars are friends in real life and have a genuine comfort with one another. It also helps that the director is a musician and former band mate of the male lead and encouraged a lot of on-set improvisation adding to the effortless lightness of it. Which is not to say it doesn't have a compelling or satisfying plot because it most certainly does not to mention an unexpected and oddly satisfying ending.

Also there is no great heavy lifting, acting-wise, that would require the chops of a seasoned professional such as would be needed to pull off fake accents or tragic reversals. The subject matter fits the style like any effective art should and--and this is the true secret--the story is primarily told through music. It's a musical, unconventional though it may be, as the singing only happens when the characters feel like playing and not because it justifies any big dance numbers (of which there are thankfully none). It's just like hanging out with a pair of musicians you know down the street and because of that you completely and utterly fall in love with them, I promise (and I don't make promises lightly).

So now you have a little hint of what you might think could be something possibly worth maybe watching if you ever sort of get in the almost mood to do so. You might say that you don't have enough details to really push you over the top like the names or resumes of any of the principals or even something more significant about the plot.

Well, okay, if you think that'll help: Glen Hansard, lead singer and songwriter of the '90's Irish rock band The Frames plays the Guy and Markéta Irglová, Czech born musician and longtime friend of Hansard plays the Girl. Like I said, this is a no-frills tale of music and sincere human connection. Writer/director John Carney has been making movies in Ireland since first leaving Hansard's band in the mid-'90's and can really strip away the fluff and hit straight to the heart with clarity, visual interest and ease.

The movie opens in Dublin with the Guy (no character name is even necessary) playing music on the street for cash and, after some humorous hijinks with a junkie, meets the Girl who appreciates his love songs and won't leave until he explains how he came to write them.

So starts an active and involving, yet deceptively plain, pairing, that will make you feel good about music, film and even humanity itself and I dare you to disagree with a single thing I've claimed. It's just that good.

Oh, and besides writing the music, the two stars won this year's Oscar for Best Original Song for the first song they play together in the film (you know, just in case you think that I'm related to the filmmakers or something).

I watch a lot of movies because I, myself, am a filmmaker (and when I say "a lot" I mean between five and ten movies per week, which yes, does make me a fanatic, I suppose) and yet this is the first movie review I've ever written. I don't usually try to convert people to my film faith, you see. It gives me solace and nourishment and that's enough.

So then why now? Because this movie is completely lovely and what's more is utterly critic-proof meaning that even a zealous first-time reviewer like me can't overstate its merit (and not for lack of trying). I absolutely dare you not to adore this film (and I say that knowing full well that some of you will feel the urge to hate it just because I said that, but I'm not worried). Now, if you still don't believe me then go ahead and read any other review you like. Seriously, go right ahead and refer to any of your favorite film critics in any of your favorite publications about this charming little movie and you will be totally overwhelmed with the positive response making it easily the best movie you've never heard of.