Interview: John Carney "Begin Again"
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 at 1:00PM Jose here. When I learned I would be talking to Begin Again director John Carney, I had to promise myself that my interview wouldn't just consist of me begging him to reshoot that scene where Greta (Keira Knightley) and Dan (Mark Ruffalo) put on their headphones and walk through NYC, using me and Keira...
...because as magical movie moments go, that one takes the crown this year. You'll be relieved to hear that I did talk to him about other things when we spoke about Begin Again, which is now out on DVD. We even get the last word on which songs will be campaigned for Oscar nominations.
JOSE: Begin Again is actually the only film that I paid to see more than once in movie theaters this year...
JOHN CARNEY: Sorry, can you say that once more, I didn’t hear you.
JOSE: Yeah sure, I was just saying your movie is the only one I bought tickets to more…
JOHN CARNEY: [Laughs] That’s fantastic and I was joking, I heard you the first time, but wanted to hear you say it again.
I really meant it. The last time I went, I had literally just been dumped by someone, so in trying to make myself feel better, going to see Begin Again seemed like the only option.
I’m sorry, but I’m glad you went again, that’s very sweet!
Keira Knightley and John Carney
This mostly made me wonder if you intended to make the film as the equivalent of “listening to your favorite record” when you’re feeling blue for example?
Oh that’s interesting and it’s funny you say that. Mostly I think that musical films are more like albums in the way that they make sense anywhere, you don’t necessarily have to follow the plot each time to just tune into that bit you love, like an album. [More...]