My Review of Hailee Steinfeld in Begin Again
Film: Begin Again (2013). Young Actress: Hailee Steinfeld, age 15.
Originally titled Can a Song Save Your Life, this movie is centered around Dan (Mark Ruffalo, Infinitely Polar Bear), a disgraced music producer who discovers Gretta (former young actress Keira Knightley, Laggies), an independent singer/songwriter, and convinces her to record an album with him. Hailee plays Dan's teenage daughter Violet, but as with her film Hateship Loveship, the plot stays focused on the two adults, and her role isn't large.
While the acting is solid all-around, it becomes obvious early on that Begin Again isn't about acting; it's about music. Several scenes felt more like a long music video than a movie. The script is also a bit heavy-handed, between Dan waxing poetic about Manhattan (where the movie takes place) and music, and Gretta scorning the conventional pop-music industry of Los Angeles for the authenticity of the city. When Gretta and Dan finish the album, she doesn't want his record label to release it because she hates capitalism and corporate greed... and yet there is so much obvious product placement with her iPhone. The hypocrisy felt really annoying.
Gretta, Violet, and Dan in Central Park. Re: their daughter's skimpy wardrobe, Dan yells at his ex-wife in one scene, "You let her leave the house looking like Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver!"
During the film, Violet improves her relationship with Dan, improves her guitar skills, and her mom and dad mend their broken marriage. But with the music taking up so much time, the character development felt rushed and sometimes forced. A good example is Gretta and Violet's first scene together. I usually love seeing former and current young actresses onscreen together, but I still couldn't get behind it. Within a few minutes of meeting each other, they're acting like sisters, with Gretta giving Violet advice on clothes and boys, and then they go on a shopping trip.
If you're really into music or New York City, then you'll probably enjoy Begin Again, but if you're looking for a strong leading performance from Hailee, then check out one of her other movies.
Other reviews of Hailee's films: Pitch Perfect 2 (2015).
AWARDS
Academy Awards: nominated for Best Original Song for "Lost Stars." This song and several others in Begin Again were penned by '70s child actress Danielle Brisebois, who has found a successful second career as a songwriter.
Originally titled Can a Song Save Your Life, this movie is centered around Dan (Mark Ruffalo, Infinitely Polar Bear), a disgraced music producer who discovers Gretta (former young actress Keira Knightley, Laggies), an independent singer/songwriter, and convinces her to record an album with him. Hailee plays Dan's teenage daughter Violet, but as with her film Hateship Loveship, the plot stays focused on the two adults, and her role isn't large.
While the acting is solid all-around, it becomes obvious early on that Begin Again isn't about acting; it's about music. Several scenes felt more like a long music video than a movie. The script is also a bit heavy-handed, between Dan waxing poetic about Manhattan (where the movie takes place) and music, and Gretta scorning the conventional pop-music industry of Los Angeles for the authenticity of the city. When Gretta and Dan finish the album, she doesn't want his record label to release it because she hates capitalism and corporate greed... and yet there is so much obvious product placement with her iPhone. The hypocrisy felt really annoying.
Gretta, Violet, and Dan in Central Park. Re: their daughter's skimpy wardrobe, Dan yells at his ex-wife in one scene, "You let her leave the house looking like Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver!"
During the film, Violet improves her relationship with Dan, improves her guitar skills, and her mom and dad mend their broken marriage. But with the music taking up so much time, the character development felt rushed and sometimes forced. A good example is Gretta and Violet's first scene together. I usually love seeing former and current young actresses onscreen together, but I still couldn't get behind it. Within a few minutes of meeting each other, they're acting like sisters, with Gretta giving Violet advice on clothes and boys, and then they go on a shopping trip.
If you're really into music or New York City, then you'll probably enjoy Begin Again, but if you're looking for a strong leading performance from Hailee, then check out one of her other movies.
Other reviews of Hailee's films: Pitch Perfect 2 (2015).
AWARDS
Academy Awards: nominated for Best Original Song for "Lost Stars." This song and several others in Begin Again were penned by '70s child actress Danielle Brisebois, who has found a successful second career as a songwriter.