As "Flora and Son" (2023 release from Ireland; 97 min.) opens, we are introduced to Flora, a single mom with a rebellious 14 yo son. One day Flora picks up a guitar left on the side of the street and gives it to her son. He's not interested so instead Flora decides to learn the guitar herself. At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie.
Couple of comments: this is the latest from Irish writer-director John Carney. Watching "Flora and Son" is like having comfort pub fare: instantly familiar, never challenging, and pleasantly consumed. Just don't ask for any lasting impression. The story is a derivative of Once, and I bet Carney could come up with another dozen derivatives if he is so inclined. The reason that I nevertheless still give it 6 stars is because of winning performances by leads Eve Hewson (as Flora) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (as Jeff the guitar teacher). They truly are the saving grace of this all too comfortable and familiar movie. At one point Jeff asks Flora what her favorite song is. To which she responds "James Blunt's You're Beautiful", much to Jeff's dismay. Funny thing is that the majority of the songs featured in the movie sound exactly as if they could've been written by James Blunt (not that there's anything wrong with that!).
"Flora and Son" premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival and created a bidding war, which Apple TV won. After a very brief and select theatrical release, the movie started streaming on Apple TV this past weekend. If you liked "Once" and are in the mood for some comfort fare, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: this is the latest from Irish writer-director John Carney. Watching "Flora and Son" is like having comfort pub fare: instantly familiar, never challenging, and pleasantly consumed. Just don't ask for any lasting impression. The story is a derivative of Once, and I bet Carney could come up with another dozen derivatives if he is so inclined. The reason that I nevertheless still give it 6 stars is because of winning performances by leads Eve Hewson (as Flora) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (as Jeff the guitar teacher). They truly are the saving grace of this all too comfortable and familiar movie. At one point Jeff asks Flora what her favorite song is. To which she responds "James Blunt's You're Beautiful", much to Jeff's dismay. Funny thing is that the majority of the songs featured in the movie sound exactly as if they could've been written by James Blunt (not that there's anything wrong with that!).
"Flora and Son" premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival and created a bidding war, which Apple TV won. After a very brief and select theatrical release, the movie started streaming on Apple TV this past weekend. If you liked "Once" and are in the mood for some comfort fare, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.