Sing Street

Release Date: April 15, 2016

Starring: Ferdia Walsh-Peelo as Conor
Jack Reynor as Brendan
Lacy Boynton as Raphina

Directed by: John Carney

Written by: John Carney

Cosmo is a teenager living in 1980's during Ireland's depression. To escape some of the struggles of real life he forms a band with his friends to impress a girl that he likes Named Raphina. They do covers of popular artists at the time and eventually write their own music. Trying to win her over Cosmo asks Raphina, an aspiring model, to star in the music video that his is making. While his love life starts to take off his parents love life is coming to an end. With the announcement of their divorce real life slaps him in the face and shatters his dreams. His Brother, Brendan, helps to show him that there is more in the world than just Ireland and helps Cosmo and Raphina find their dream.

This movie was a surprise to me. I though this was going to be a lame, super cheesy film that was going to be forgettable later. However, it's one of my favorites this year. It's fun, it's original, and one of the most hope filled movies I have seen.

John Carney wrote a beautiful story about young different backstories of young adults in a difficult time period. Not only did he show how difficult it is for young adults during a time when parents are at war with each other and with their finances. Shows a unique look at how music, or art in general, can take you to new heights or change how you view your reality. While Cosmo's wold is still falling apart he found a way to cope with it in his music. Carney does excellent work in showing that any body of art can have power to pull them to greater heights than they have ever known. He really got how escapism can hurt and help people going through a difficult time. What I mean by that is when Cosmo finds out that his parents are getting a divorce he is disappointed because he hasn't really been thinking about their situation as much, because it was obvious that something was bound to give sooner or later. He was also disappointed because whenever he thought about his parents seeing him play live he thought of them together and somehow his dream would fix their problems. All of this is shown when his older brother has to be the voice of reason that just because you dream something doesn't mean that it will come true. Even though Cosmo is old enough to know that it's a bitter pill to swallow.

I have to say that everyone in the cast did a fantastic job, even though it's a little weird seeing Aiden Gillen in any role other than Little Finger, I would have to say there is one actor who stood out the most. That would have to be the role or Brendan played by Jack Reynor. It is by far one of the most memorable roles of the year. He shows a lot of discipline balancing between a high teenager with no cares in the world and a boy who had to become a man way too soon. At first you really think that he is just a drop out teenager with no dreams of his own but when the world is falling apart you find that he is the only one really prepared for it. He is the oldest and the one who has been there through most of the problems that his parents has faced and has tried all he could to accept the fact and make the piece that life is not how he really want it to be. He see a lot of hope in Cosmo that he really can do what he sets out to do because he was there to lead the way when his parents didn't.

In fact it his words about Cosmo following in his wake that lead to the powerful ending of the film when Cosmo decides to carve his own path by following in the wake of other travelers before him.

This is a film for dreamers and achievers alike. It's about looking for hope when you think there is none and finding a dream even when your are crushed. That sometimes you have to reach your dream by helping someone else achieve theirs.