Substance over style - Once Reviews

No special effects, no stunts, no cliches, no unbelievable plots, no over-the-top acting -- just a simple, real story with some natural, understated acting, intelligent dialog, and some beautiful music to carry it along. I was absolutely hooked (and blown away) from the start, where The Guy gives an absolutely gut-wrenching performance on the street of a song he wrote about a breakup, and meets The Girl, who is one of the most honest, disarming characters I've ever seen in a movie. As with last year's Little Miss Sunshine, this movie proves that a great movie can be made with a small budget. But be warned... If you like your movies nicely polished and produced, or if prefer stories neatly wrapped in a Hollywood bow, then you probably will be disappointed. But maybe not. You may find that you can be entertained simply by a great story, beautifully told.