I can’t believe how early in the year it was—the first month of 2017—when I finally got around to seeing this movie, but it's quickly become my new favorite film of the year. It had been on my list for quite some time after I watched **Sing Street** – another film by **John Carney**. And I did enjoy his other movie, **Begin Again** (I especially love the song Lost Stars). They all share similar ideas…not just about music, but about how music is created. **What I really like about Once** is its simplicity; it feels more genuine and unpolished than **Sing Street** or **Begin Again**. The songs are truly lovely, and I’ve been listening to them every day. Two scenes particularly stand out for me: Falling Slowly (as shown in the video above) at the music shop—the instant connection they have through music is wonderful! It doesn't need to be a romance between the characters; it’s just about relating to each other and sharing their passion for making music. The second scene I love is in the recording studio during When Your Mind’s Made Up. The guy operating the equipment initially seems indifferent, like he’s just going through the motions with another amateur band, but then when they start playing, his attitude changes—he's impressed! It’s something special for everyone involved; you can tell these musicians are completely immersed in their element and will cherish that moment for a lifetime, doing something they all love so much. All of the characters in the studio are just really likable. Honestly, I enjoy the entire film, so every scene is great. My favorite song from an emotional standpoint is Lies; it’s incredibly powerful and heartbreaking, and I think it's a scene that many people can connect with. It might even replace Garden State as the movie I play in the background while doing other things, just to have it on. It's definitely something musicians and music lovers like myself should see.

Source on TMDB