Begin Again is an American musical comedy-drama film directed by John Carney. The film stars Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine, James Corden, Hailee Steinfeld, Yasiin Bey, CeeLo Green, and Catherine Keener.
Plot[]
Formerly successful record label executive Dan Mulligan lives in New York City, estranged from his wife Miriam and daughter Violet and struggling to keep up with the changing music industry. After being fired, he goes on a drinking binge, leading him to a bar on the Lower East Side where he encounters Gretta James.
Gretta is a young, fiercely independent songwriter from England, whose longtime boyfriend and songwriting partner is Dave Kohl. As a newly successful musician, he has an affair with a production assistant while he went to Los Angeles for the weekend which causes Gretta to break up with him. Saddened Gretta goes to stay with Steve (a busker and an old best friend of Gretta's), while she plans to go home in the morning, she is invited by Steve to come perform at a club before going home.
Captivated by Gretta's music, Dan offers to sign her to his former record label, and although initially refusing, she reconsiders and agrees. Dan and Gretta meet with Saul, Dan's business partner and co-founder of the record label, but he does not see the same potential in her, turning her away. Undeterred, Dan proposes they produce their own album together, to be recorded live at various public locations around the city, even insisting they keep recording regardless. Recruiting a team of talented musicians, including Steve, Dan sets out to make an album worthy of being published. During this time, Dan and Gretta bond both personally and professionally, and she takes his teenage daughter Violet, a fledgling guitarist, under her wing and encourages her to play on the album and even gets her a new wardrobe.
When Gretta sees Dave accepting an award on television, she criticizes him for selling out to the music industry and, with the help of Steve, she expresses her grievances with him in a song which she records on his voicemail. A remorseful Dave, back in New York promoting his new album, returns her call and asks to see her. After some consideration, she decides to meet with him and they critique each other's albums.
Gretta feels betrayed by Dave's heavily commercialized rendition of "Lost Stars" (a love ballad she had written and composed for him as a Christmas present) and believes the true meaning of the song has been lost. He tells her the audiences love the way he plays it, and that their energy fills the room. He believes that music is about sharing it with people, but Gretta insists it is not what she intended for that song. Nevertheless, Dave invites her to come and hear him play the song at the Gramercy Theatre that weekend so that she can see how his fans react to it.
When Gretta's album is finished, she and Dan meet again with Saul, who is very impressed with their collaboration. She demands Saul give Dan his job back and her a bigger share in the deal. They leave without reaching an agreement, but Dan feels confident that Saul will eventually sign on Gretta. Later, after receiving a text message from Dave reminding her of his concert and much consideration, Gretta arrives at the venue just in time to watch Dave play her original arrangement of the song.
Watching him play, Gretta is initially happy to hear their song as she envisioned, but when the audience starts to cheer as it climaxes, she realizes that too much has changed. She leaves the concert and cycles through the city with a feeling of newfound hope and closure as a dejected Dave continues to perform.
Afterward, Gretta visits Dan at his apartment as he prepares to move back home, having made amends with his wife. She tells him she does not want him to release her album, instead preferring to distribute it online for $1. Although Dan returns to work with Saul, he agrees to let Gretta release the album online and helps her to promote the release. The next day, Saul jokingly fires Dan for promoting Gretta's album and informs him that it sold 10,000 copies on its first day of release.
Cast[]
- Keira Knightley as Gretta James
- Mark Ruffalo as Dan Mulligan
- Adam Levine as Dave Kohl
- James Corden as Steve
- Hailee Steinfeld as Violet Mulligan
- Yasiin Bey as Saul
- CeeLo Green as Troublegum
- Catherine Keener as Miriam Hart
Videos[]
Trailers[]
Begin Again Official Trailer (2013) HD Movie
Official Trailer