[Congrats to randomly selected winners Eric G., Marky C., Patrick S. and Ashley H. Thanks to all who entered - and if you didn't win, go see the movie, anyway!]
I haven’t been in love with a movie in a long time… until “Sing Street” came along.
Set in Dublin in 1985, the movie is a valentine to classic ‘80s Europop – the extraordinary bass playing of Duran Duran’s John Taylor gets a nod and songs from The Jam, A-ha, The Cure proliferate the soundtrack.
But what writer-director John Carney (the guy behind “Once” and “Begin Again”) has crafted this time is a sweet, uplifting story and an original soundtrack that is better than the majority of anything on Top 40 radio.
Carney and Gary Clark – the Scottish musician known from 1980s pop band Danny Wilson – wrote the original songs, which range from the Gary Numan-esque “Riddle of the Model” to the Hall and Oates-influenced “Drive it Like You Stole It” to the charmingly rebellious “Brown Shoes” (which ties into a running storyline).
The plot is as ancient as Rome: shy high school kid Conor (played by the quietly charming Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) crushes on glamorous older girl Raphina (the alluring Lucy Boynton), tries to impress her, fails, recruits her to star in a video for his band that doesn't exist, panics, forms band to fit the narrative, learns to find himself – and create some awesome tuneage in the process – deals with heartbreak in scenic Irish locales, etc.
In between, Conor’s hairstyles evolve – “happysad” Cure mop, blonde Duran bangs, sleek Spandau Ballet suits -- and he learns valuable music advice from his shaggy, rooted older brother Brendan (Jack Reynor) such as, “No woman can truly love a man who listens to Phil Collins.”
So…who wants to check out one of the best movies of the year – with a soundtrack that will be tough to eclipse this year – for free?
I have four passes – each valid for two people – to see the movie at any Regal location in Atlanta (it's currently playing at Tara Cinemas on Cheshire Bridge Road).
To enter, email me at mruggieri@ajc.com by 5 p.m. Friday, May 14. I'll randomly select four different winners and will mail you the passes, so please include your address.
Also, if you put anything other than “Sing Street tickets” in the subject line, I won’t see your email.
Good luck! And trust me, you want to see this movie.
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