Song One

15 April 2019

Song One 2014

• Director: Kate Barker-Froyland
• Based on the novel: no
• Cast: Anne Hathaway, Johnny Flynn, Mary Steenburgen, Ben Rosenfield
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Anna Hathaway – Interstellar, Les Misérables, The Dark Knight Rises, Alice in Wonderland, Rachel Getting Married, Becoming Jane, Brokeback Mountain, Ella Enchanted
• Johnny Flynn – Twelfth Night
• Mary Steenburgen – The Help, Honeydripper, The Dead Girl, I Am Sam, Nixon, Philadelphia, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
• Why? Anne Hathaway. Music.
• Seen: 12 April 2019.    

             Franny (Hathaway) is in Morocco doing field work for her PhD in anthropology when her mother (Steenburgen) calls to tell her that her brother Henry (Rosenfield) is in a coma after a traffic accident. She returns to NY filled with remorse for her last meeting with her brother six months earlier during which she told him he was mad for dropping out of school to pursue his music.

       While waiting (hoping) for him to regain consciousness she listens to CDs of his music, reads his journal, wanders around NY visiting places he’s mentioned there, goes to a concert with Henry’s idol, minor celebrity James Forester (Flynn). James and Franny form a tentative awkward friendship that grows as they wander about together and he takes part in the vigil at Henry’s bedside.

       It’s a quiet gentle film with some good songs and some good scenes from NY’s underground music scene. Not a masterpiece maybe but quietly, gently watchable.

3½ * of 5 (H gave it 4)