Spielberg on "Once"

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"A little movie called Once gave me enough inspiration to last the rest of the year." -- Steven Spielberg to USA Today's Anthony Breznican in a piece about Fox Searchlight's new ad/promo push for the Irish-made film. Breznican also reveals that costars Glenn Hansard and Marketa Irglova have recorded a cover version of Bob Dylan's "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" that'll be included in the soundtrack of Todd Haynes' Dylan pic I'm Not There.

Hansard, Irglova on the beach in Santa Monica last May [photo by Larry Armstrong]

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 7, 2007 at 11:29 AM

comment #1

Michael says ...

Took my wife to see this two nights ago; small theatre in a large AMC (in SA, TX), with about 6 other couples in the place. It was awesome. I will never again question why musicians get all the women.

"Okay, fuck this."

Posted by Michael at August 7, 2007 11:55 AM

comment #2

AJW says ...

I don't listen to hacks.

Posted by AJW at August 7, 2007 11:59 AM

comment #3

Walter Sobchak says ...

I've found this a tough movie to sell.

On the one hand, it is a small movie that sneaks up on you and works beautifully when you watch it as something you've discovered on your own.

On the other hand, the only way I can get anyone to see it is to over-hype the shit out of it. (no stars, nothing blowing up, no accompanying graphic novels)

And little films like this don't hold up to over-hype. So when someone finally relents and sees it, they respond "yeah.... it was okay.... kinda cute, I guess.... dunno why you made such a big deal, though... it's not THAT great...")

thus is the conundrum

Posted by Walter Sobchak at August 7, 2007 12:17 PM

comment #4

The Winchester says ...

Walter, you said it perfectly.

Posted by The Winchester at August 7, 2007 12:31 PM

comment #5

The Movie Man says ...

Walter- I get what you mean. I found Once a little overrated myself, not because its lacking in explosions and what not, I just found it a little slight. I thought the story of the guy finding his creative groove was actually more moving that the Brief Encounter/Lost in Translation love story. Again, I did like it, but I do get the vibe it will be one of those things people rave about for 12 months and then never watch again.

AJW-don't listen to him, I'm sure that'll show him.

Posted by The Movie Man at August 7, 2007 12:32 PM

comment #6

Rich S. says ...

Walter, plug "Waitress" in for "Once" and you have perfectly captured why it's extremely difficult for me to persuade my wife to see this kind of movie any more.

Posted by Rich S. at August 7, 2007 12:37 PM

comment #7

gruver1 says ...

Wells to Movie Man: There is no "slight." There is only the question about whether a movie has filled the spiritual space that it has defined for itself -- be it "Attack of the Clones" or "Get Carter" or "Once" -- or not. Every movie has its fighting weight, and every movie has its own battle to fight. Within its own intimate, very low-budget perimeter, "Once" is totally fawkin' perfect, man...brilliant. Anyone who doesn't understand this needs to be taken out behind the building and slapped around. Including, if need be, the wife of "Rich S."

Posted by gruver1 at August 7, 2007 12:50 PM

comment #8

T. Holly says ...

Ah, Dylan cover songs, something to look forward to. One of my favs is Jack White doing One More Cup of Coffee.

Posted by T. Holly at August 7, 2007 12:57 PM

comment #9

T. Holly says ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re1wxemCsxA

But beware, the first comment is:

"even i admit...this was lame. the cd version is amazing however."

Posted by T. Holly at August 7, 2007 1:02 PM

comment #10

Rich S. says ...

Wow, Jeff, I haven't seen this kind of hostility out of you in some time. I was merely agreeing with Walter's observation that a small independent movie can be a tough sell. I pushed my wife on seeing Waitress and it disappointed. That makes the selling of Once all the more difficult.

Your polarization of everything has become increasingly difficult to swallow. You claim to despise movies that reduce everything to black and white, but every issue you discuss on these boards is increasingly reduced to those stark terms. Taste is a personal issue. Some people like some things; some don't. People are not idiots if they don't believe as you do, and they're certainly not deserving of physical violence, not even metaphorically.

For someone with a "Blue State Mentality," you certainly have become remarkably intolerant.

Posted by Rich S. at August 7, 2007 1:09 PM

comment #11

T. Holly says ...

Ach, Wells is right. The only intolerance going on here is the inability to appreciate beauty and get off on contrarian statements and attack the boss.

If you have Rhapsody.

http://play.rhapsody.com/whitestripes/thewhitestripes/onemorecupofcoffee?didAutoplayBounce=true

Posted by T. Holly at August 7, 2007 1:19 PM

comment #12

kammy says ...

For me, "Zodiac" did not live up to the hype coming from this website (it was a good film, though), whilst "Once" most certainly did.

Posted by kammy at August 7, 2007 1:24 PM

comment #13

The Movie Man says ...

Sorry for mildly disagreeing Mr. Wells, I'll remember to mind my own business next time. Funny thing is I actually agree with the majority of your comment, particularly the idea that every film has its own definition that it lives or dies by. Is it possible that I can know this and still have not have found the film quite as moving or memorable as you sir? I think it is. And you may want to remember your point about each film's own weight the next time you take one of your many potshots at movies you have not seen.

Posted by The Movie Man at August 7, 2007 1:24 PM

comment #14

MilkMan says ...

Movies for Bed Wetters.

Posted by MilkMan at August 7, 2007 2:47 PM

comment #15

Craig Kennedy says ...

Anyone who doesn't understand Marie-Antoinette needs to be taken out behind the building and slapped around.

Posted by Craig Kennedy at August 7, 2007 3:37 PM

comment #16

gruver1 says ...

Wells to cjKennedy: That's pretty funny. Wells to Rich S. and Movie Man: I was trying to comically or at least sardonically express the frustration of knowing what a small pie slice of perfection "Once" is, and listening over and over to people saying "I tried to get my wife to go but she didn't want to because Keira Knightley isn't in it," etc.

Posted by gruver1 at August 7, 2007 3:43 PM

comment #17

Walter Sobchak says ...

Couple years ago I'm riding in a car with a girl I was sort of dating and we looked up to see the billboard for "Sweet Home Alabama". If you remember the early billboards and one sheets comprised of nothing more than the title of the movie and a big pic of a smiling Reese Witherspoon. (not that there's anything wrong with that)

Without knowing anything else about the film except the title and the star, (that is, the info conveyed on the billboard), she said, "That looks good, I want to see it"....

thus what we are dealing with

Posted by Walter Sobchak at August 7, 2007 4:02 PM

comment #18

MiraJeffAICN says ...

These are the facts: Once is amazing. Zodiac was great. And Marie Antoinette sucked. I'm not interested in hearing any other opinion about any of those films. CJ, I would rather stare at a wall for two hours than watch Marie Antoinette again. I aged 5 years during that movie.

Posted by MiraJeffAICN at August 7, 2007 4:10 PM

comment #19

Craig Kennedy says ...

That's nice MiraJeff. I'm always interested in hearing other opinions about the movies I love or hate whether I agree or not, but I can see you're not interested in a discussion. Turns out we agree on 2 of the 3 movies you mention. Sucks to be you with those lost 5 years though. That's a fact.

Posted by Craig Kennedy at August 7, 2007 4:23 PM

comment #20

malibugigolo says ...

Denim shirts rock.

Posted by malibugigolo at August 7, 2007 4:39 PM

comment #21

jeffmcm says ...

What if I thought both Once and Marie Antoinette were completely middle-of-the-road mediocre?

Posted by jeffmcm at August 7, 2007 4:57 PM

comment #22

Craig Kennedy says ...

I guess you didn't get the "Fact: Once is Amazing" memo Jeffmcm and were not aware that your opinion is wrong. If you promise that you liked Zodiac I think we can let it slide this time.

Posted by Craig Kennedy at August 7, 2007 5:37 PM

comment #23

T. Holly says ...

You don't get it CJ, ask yourself "whether a movie has filled the spiritual space that it has defined for itself" and accept that "every movie has its own battle to fight. Within its own intimate, very low-budget perimeter, 'Once' is totally fawkin' perfect, man...brilliant."

"Once" is a frightening experience that may keep you up at night, look what it did to Spielberg.

Posted by T. Holly at August 7, 2007 5:57 PM

comment #24

malibugigolo says ...

Sadly though it appears another couple of foreigners fell for the supposedly free Santa Monica pier free shoeshine trick.

Posted by malibugigolo at August 7, 2007 6:10 PM

comment #25

T. Holly says ...

Better to see their body parts where the sun don't shine.

Posted by T. Holly at August 7, 2007 6:21 PM

comment #26

Mr B says ...

I though Zodiac was a good movie and well crafted, but was I the only person afterwards who just kind of nodded and shrugged his shoulders. I guess I am trying to say, it was no doubt technically very good, but left no mark, warranted no discussion afterwards.

Posted by Mr B at August 7, 2007 6:41 PM

comment #27

jeffmcm says ...

Fortunately I did like Zodiac - in particular I thought it had one of the most haunting endings of a movie this year.

Posted by jeffmcm at August 7, 2007 6:57 PM

comment #28

AJW says ...

"AJW-don't listen to him, I'm sure that'll show him.

Posted by: The Movie Man at August 7, 2007 12:32 PM"

Sorry, I was actually lightly mocking Jeff Wells. I find it funny that he mercilessly hammers Spielberg for being a director that will go down in history as a hack, and then uses a quote from the master to support his favorite movie of the summer (year?).

Posted by AJW at August 7, 2007 10:59 PM

comment #29

BurmaShave says ...

Hurdy gurdy gurdy gurdy gurdy singin' songs of love...

Posted by BurmaShave at August 8, 2007 1:16 AM

comment #30

MAGGA says ...

Just had a listen to some of the songs, and they are horrid. I guess I will see this film, but with tunes like that I understand why it is difficult to market. Yeuch!

Posted by MAGGA at August 8, 2007 10:00 PM

comment #31