Sing Street 2016

     The setting of this film is 1985 and some scenes were inspired by true events.  Everyone is interested in pop music and music videos are appearing on television for the first time.  This is after the Beatles formed their group in Liverpool, England in 1960.  Conor is a teenager 14 years old living in Dublin, Ireland.  His family is down on their luck with money and Conor will need to change to a Catholic School instead of his expensive fee-paying school.  It’s a rough start with bullying from the Brother and one of his classmates.  Conor meets Raphina and everything begins to change.  She tells Conor that she’s a model and she doesn’t go to school.  She’s leaving for London soon to begin her career.  Conor tells her he has a band, he really doesn’t but now he needs to start one!!

     Conor reminds me of a young Paul McCartney and Eamon reminds me of John Lennon.  Perhaps, that's why they were chosen for their roles?  Conor and the other band members start to record their own work instead of being a cover band using songs from other bands.  Conor might really have a chance with Raphina becoming his girlfriend.  At least, the band takes his mind off of this new school and the problems.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

106 min, Drama directed by John Carney with Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Aidan Gillen, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Jack Reynor, Ian Kenny, Ben Carolan, Percy Chamburuka, Mark McKenna, Don Wycherley, Des Keogh.

Note:  Imdb 8.0 out of 10, 95% critic 92% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3 ½*, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 527 reviews, Metacritic 79 out of 100 with 37 critics 8.6 out of 10 with 163 reviews, The Guardian 4* out of 5* review by Mark Kermode also 3.5* out of 4* review by Peter Bradshaw, Rolling Stone 3.5* out of 4*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Dublin, Ireland.  Ferdia Walsh-Peelo’s father and uncles attended the real Synge Street Christian Brothers School.  Mark McKenna is in the role of Eamon, his father is the musician Eamon.  The director John Carney was the bassist in the Irish rock band The Frames from 1991 to 1993.  He also directed the movie Once from 2007.  Glen Hansard wrote two songs for this film, Go Now and Don’t Go Down.  He won an Oscar for his song Falling Slowly featured on Once.  Adam Levine performs the song Go Now.  Originally U2”s Bono and The Edge were going to work with Carney on this film.  There was some back and forth communication during the development stages but scheduling conflicts arose.