From the filmmaker who brought you the acclaimed film Once, which won for Best Original Song at the 2007 Oscars, writer/director John Carney has received another Best Original Song Oscar nomination with his 2013 music drama Begin Again. The film’s most memorable ballad, “Lost Stars”, performed by the New Radicals, has fresh new animated music video treatment, as seen in a Deadline Exclusive. You can check out the music video for yourself below.
The movie revolves around Manhattan starving artists Gretta (Keira Knightley) and Dan (Mark Ruffalo), a songwriter and music producer, respectively, who wind up scraping together a relationship, both romantic and professional, from the remnants of their pasts.
Although the original motion picture soundtrack features Knightley singing “Lost Stars”, along with her character’s sleazy rockstar ex-boyfriend Dave’s (Adam Levine) performance of the song, Knightley reportedly had to fake playing the guitar. In an interview with The Guardian, she admits that she “is so not musical.”
Although Carney wrote the screenplay for Begin Again, the musical writing credit – and consequently the nomination – truly goes to singer-songwriter Danielle Brisebois and Grammy-winner Gregg Alexander (both former bandmates in the New Radicals). Rick Nowels and Nick Lashley also collaborated with Brisebois and Alexander for the soundtrack of Begin Again.
Carney’s first hit film Once went on to become adapted into a stage production, officially hitting Broadway in 2012. When asked whether or not he expects Begin Again to follow in its predecessor’s footsteps, Carney remains level-headed, quoting:
Lightening doesn’t strike twice and all that, and I wouldn’t want to jinx anything. I can’t imagine ever having a film that was turned into a stage show twice in [my] life. Once is good enough.”
Levine is slated to perform “Lost Stars” at the upcoming Oscars ceremony, airing on February 22nd. The nominated song will meet stiff competition this year however, running against contenders “Glory” (from Selma), “Everything Is Awesome” (The LEGO Movie), “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” (Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me), and “Grateful” (Beyond the Lights).
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