Ranking the Films of John Carney

John Carney has an innate ability to hit me right in the feels. Though he’s made other films, starting with Once, he really broken out to be a poet for musicians and the love of music. He’s chronicled that passion with lovers in Once, friends in Begin Again, and even kids with Sing Street. I spoke to him here about Flora and Son, but with Power Ballad now in wide release, I’m here to rank Carney’s central filmography, which is about as consistently wonderful as it gets. As a bonus, he’s one of the few out there whose movies are helping to keep the Best Original Song category alive, even if he’s been unjustly snubbed a few times, too.

In my review of Power Ballad (here), I had the following to say:

A John Carney movie follows a certain melody. Whether it’s his smallest film in breakthrough Once, his most star studded in follow up Begin Again, or his most recent work with Sing Street and Flora and Son, music plays an absolutely integral role. It’s not just to the plot, either. Carney does far more than fill his flicks with memorable original songs. No, he also imbues the love of music, of making music, into his characters. To them, songs are saviors (Begin Again was even originally titled Can a Song Save Your Life?). Now, he’s back with Power Ballad, which feels like a mix of everything he’s done before, albeit with a very enjoyable little twist. I was completely charmed by this one, which is as good as anything he’s done yet, as well as ranking amongst the best work of the year so far.

Power Ballad has all the charm of Carney’s work, though this time there’s more conflict in the story. That slight prickliness gives it a distinct flavor amongst his filmography. At the start, you’re pretty sure you know where the film is going to go. Then, the end of the first act has a real pivot point for Carney. From there on, the movie does kind of follow the path you’d expect, albeit a road he’s never quite gone down before. By the end, not only has he wrapped up another feel good gem, but he’s tugged at your heartstrings in just the right way.

Previously, I raved about Flora and Son (here) in the following manner:

At this point, you know what to expect walking into a John Carney film. That’s not a criticism, either, as the filmmaker is wildly consistent. He has a bright view of the world, has impeccable musical tastes, and ends his movies in a way that leaves you with a song in your heart. That’s all true once again here with Flora and Son. Making this stop at the Toronto International Film Festival before hitting Apple, it’s an early favorite of the festival for me.

Flora and Son delighted me to no end. It’s funny, emotional, full of solid music, and leaves you with a smile on your face. Whether in a festival environment like here at TIFF or in general, what more can you ask for? Movies like this are rare gems and deserve to be treated as such. Honestly, I never wanted this film to end.

Below, you can see how Carney stacks up for me. Now, to be clear, I think he’s five for five, so this is just separating the great from the excellent. It’s actually interesting for me, since I think Once is such a perfect little film and a magical success, so it’s likely Carney’s best, yet it’s also the one I’ve revisited the least, minus the songs, of course. On the flip side, while Begin Again suffers just a touch from a big name cast, it’s still got some of his best music and is highly re-watchable. So, his other work is sandwhiched in between, but with a fairly small gap between them. What can I say? Carney just works on a level for me that few do. Where does Power Ballad debut on this list? Find out next…