Plagiarism. A plague on creatives. Copy that.
Plagiarism. It’s the slurry with the infringement on top.
Plagiarism. Where appropriation is not appropriate.
Plagiarism. It’s at the core of the first great feelgood film of the year, POWER BALLAD.
From the director of Once, John Carney, POWER BALLAD is another gem from this musically inclined film maker, a melody maker of movies, a heart and humanity harmonist, a rhythm with views maestro. Carney’s films are unabashedly love songs masquerading as movies.
Ex pat Yank, Rick Power, lives in Dublin with his Irish wife and daughter. He fronts a wedding band called Bride & Groove, pumping out covers of jukebox gold at post nuptials. After one such gig, Rick drunkenly jams with a wedding guest, former boy-band sensation Danny, riffing a song he composed for his daughter called “How to Write a Song (Without You).” It’s an irresistible soft-rock anthem, all about how the singer can’t write a song unless his one true love is there to inspire it.
It sticks with Danny who is struggling to kick start a solo career. The melody lingers, as these things are meant to, and the words too, and Danny records the song, and it turns out to be his return ticket to popularity. The song is a hit; it gets millions of views; it jump-starts his career as a solo artist who can be taken seriously. There’s just one problem. Danny’s a shit, he didn’t write it. He stole it from Rick.
As Danny’s solo career takes flight on Rick’s lyrics, Rick fights for recognition. Relentlessly. And so the drama escalates, bouncing from Dublin to Los Angeles on a rock n roll ride that seconds all emotions. Adventure and misadventure ensue in a rollicking mission to set the record straight. Literally and figuratively.
“How to Write a Song (Without You) is among a number of songs written for the film by John Carney and Gary Clark, all bloody good songs in their own right, contributing grandly to the fabric and thread of the narrative.
Arguably the best acting performance Paul Rudd has given, POWER BALLAD also boasts a powerhouse supporting cast with more than five stars, including Nick Jonas as Danny and the film’s co script writer, Peter McDonald, who plays Sandy, Rick’s eccentric buddy and band mate.
Just as once was never enough for ONCE, POWER BALLAD deserves, demands, more than one viewing. It’s endearing, enduring and bloody entertaining.
