Midway through Sing Street — the latest film from writer/director John Carney — a character introduces the term “happy-sad” to describe a certain complex, bittersweet emotion. In many ways, this phrase not only applies to the coming-of-age tale at the center of Carney’s latest but to his filmography as a whole.
Set in 1985, the film centers on a teenage boy in Dublin named Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) whose family unceremoniously transfers him to Synge Street Christian Brothers School to cut costs. Before long, he meets the mysterious, self-proclaimed model Raphina (Lucy Boynton) and starts up a band in order to impress her. Naming themselves Sing Street, Conor and some new friends soon develop into a lightning rod of controversy in the conservative school, butting heads with both the principal and a particularly determined bully.
Although Sing Street features a number of archetypal characters and story tropes audiences will associate with teen-centered romances, the film elevates the genre with a number of secret weapons. From the film’s two leads to a host of memorable supporting characters, its charming cast creates rich, complex characters that brilliantly capture the struggles of growing up and figuring out your place in the world. Jack Reynor particularly stands out as Conor’s older brother in a heart-wrenching performance. For now, the actor may be best known for the terrible Transformers: Age of Extinction, but his work here is filled with such nuance that it very likely will deliver an emotional gut-punch to viewers.
More than just a character-driven dramedy, Sing Street embodies the creative process better than most films in recent memory. From the point of inspiration to the thrill of execution, the film follows the titular band’s evolutionary journey of growth from a ragtag group of misfits to something that begins to brush up against self-actualization. Carney himself co-wrote several original songs with veteran composer Gary Clark, and infectious, optimistic tunes like “Drive It Like You Stole It” (which plays during a particularly beautiful sequence), “To Find You” and “Up” seamlessly blend with 1980s classics by the likes of Duran Duran and Hall & Oates.
Sing Street celebrates not only the era in which it is set but also the power of music to transport, transform and transcend. The film is among the greatest crowd-pleasers to come along in ages, and the universal truths behind its story — and the joyous way in which it is told — are sure to linger in the hearts of moviegoers.
Alongside previous Carney films like Once and Begin Again (a personal favorite of mine), Sing Street serves as a spiritual follow-up in that all three films explore the intermingled paths of self-discovery, romance, personal development and artistic growth. However, thanks to a fresh approach to a tried-and-true genre, a compelling cast and some unforgettable music, Sing Street is the filmmaker’s finest effort to date.
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Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Sing Street stars Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Lucy Boynton, Jack Reynor, Mark McKenna, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Aidan Gillen and Don Wycherley. It is written and directed by John Carney. Robert Yaniz Jr. can be reached on Twitter at @crookedtable.For more, visit the following: Crooked Table Videos: http://www.crookedtable.com/category/videos/ Crooked Table Reviews: http://www.crookedtable.com/category/reviews/ Subscribe to the Crooked Table Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/al/podcast/crooked-table-podcast/id897846548?mt=2 Connect with Crooked Table on social media: http://www.crookedtable.com/contact/