Sing Street Review

Films about starting a band are like starting a band in the real world, the ones that work understand that it’s all about the beautiful struggle of creating rather than the excitement of covering. 2 years ago, Lenny Abrahamson’s Frank showed the emotional beauty of the process of creating music, and this year John Carney shows us in his latest film Sing Street that no one makes this type of film better than him.

Following on from Carney’s Once and Begin Again, which also focused on talented musicians, Sing Street is the story of Dublin teenager Connor forced to move to a rougher school due to his family’s financial situation. Not fitting in at his new school Connor takes solace in music, he sets out to start a band to impress a girl, the only reason anyone has ever started a band ever.

What John Carney seems to understand better than any director is the sheer power of the musical process. In Once music was a force to create love, in Begin Again music was a means of redemption, and in Sing Street music is used as means to discover identity and come of age, as well as winning the girl obviously. What comes through much more here is Carney’s brilliant sense of dead pan comedy, when three of the band go to find “the only black lad in Dublin” to be in their band, their innocence in their nature is charming and hilarious. Carney’s stroke of genius is using complete unknowns as the stars for his film, the fact that the characters are played by Irish lads who are musically talented means that their characters feel completely genuine. Carney is smart enough to know where the film needs weight in performance and provides the film with some excellent supporting performances from the likes of Aiden Gillen, Maria Doyle Kennedy and, most importantly Jack Reynor. Reynor plays Connors older brother Brendan, a pot smoking college burnout his passion and knowledge of music is what spurns Connor on. To a certain extent his Brendan is a little like Philip Seymour Hoffman in Almost Famous spurning on the younger generation with their knowledge, the difference is the weight that Brendan is given towards the end. Where there are lines that make you laugh Brendan’s speech towards the end will completely bowl you over.

This film rises and falls on the music though, and Sing Street absolutely soars with this soundtrack. There are hits from The Clash, The Cure, The Jam, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet and many more. What’s brilliant is how these artists continue to change the bands style and their songs, from Duran Duran and their poppy fun, to The Cure helping the band find their “happy-sad”. The original songs provided for the film include the likes of Riddle of the model and the brilliant Drive it like you stole it elevate the film the way an original band are better than a cover band. This might not be a the most original film in the world but its charm and fun and passion for music is what elevates John Carney’s work from others, you’ll be singing Drive it like you stole it for weeks after. (Low 5 Stars)