Sing Street

For other uses, see Synge Street CBS.
Sing Street

Theatrical release poster
Directed by John Carney
Produced by
Screenplay by John Carney
Story by John Carney
Simon Carmody
Starring
Cinematography Yaron Orbach
Edited by
  • Andrew Marcus
  • Julian Ulrichs
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 24 January 2016 (2016-01-24) (Sundance)
  • 17 March 2016 (2016-03-17) (Ireland)
  • 15 April 2016 (2016-04-15) (United States)
  • 20 May 2016 (2016-05-20) (United Kingdom)
Running time
 105 minutes[2]
Country
  • Ireland
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
Language English
Box office $13.1 million[3]

Sing Street is a 2016 musical comedy-drama film written, co-produced and directed by John Carney. Starring Lucy Boynton, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Jack Reynor, Kelly Thornton and Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, the story revolves around a boy starting a band to impress a girl.

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on 24 January 2016.[4] It was released in Ireland on 17 March 2016,[5] in the US on 15 April and in the United Kingdom on 20 May.[6]

Plot

In south inner-city Dublin in 1985, Robert Lalor (Aidan Gillen) is struggling with his architecture practice and his marriage, and drinks and smokes to excess. At a family meeting, he announces that in order to save money he is taking his youngest son Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) out of his expensive fee-paying school and moving him to a free state-school, Synge Street CBS, which Robert asserts is of equally high repute. Conor's elder brother Brendan (Jack Reynor) ribs him about the change as well as about the state of the family unit.

Conor appears in school on the first day in his new uniform, but without the regulation black shoes. The school principal Br. Baxter (Don Wycherley), takes him to task for this despite Conor’s pleas of being unable to afford new black shoes, eventually forcing him to complete the day shoeless. The shoe problem is resolved by painting the shoes black using paint from the art room. An encounter with the school bully, Barry (Ian Kenny) introduces Conor to Darren (Ben Carolan), an ally and budding entrepreneur. When Conor tells the beautiful aspiring model, Raphina (Lucy Boynton), in order to impress her, that he needs a model for a music video his band is making, Darren agrees to manage the outfit and introduces him to multi-instrumentalist Eamon (Mark McKenna).

The band practice in Eamon's living room, playing a bunch of 1980s covers. Conor however has a sibling-induced epiphany when Brendan encourages him to drop the covers and develop the band's own style. He begins writing original songs with Eamon. The band film their first music video for their song "The Riddle of the Model", wearing a motley assortment of often comical costumes, with Raphina acting as ingenue and makeup artist. Raphina gives Conor the name "Cosmo", which she says is more in keeping with his new band's image and the band continues to write and record new songs. After spending the day filming a music video for a new song, Conor and Raphina kiss and exchange confidences. Conor also manages to stand up to Barry by pointing out the insignificance to his life as well as his own, which greatly upsets Barry.

At home Robert and Penny (Maria Doyle Kennedy)'s marriage is falling apart, while Raphina and Cosmo's relationship blossoms. Cosmo takes Raphina out to Dalkey Island in his granddad's motor cruiser. Here they view the car ferry leaving Dún Laoghaire for Britain and discuss Raphina's dream of leaving Ireland for London.

Cosmo, Raphina, and the band then prepare to film a "Back to the Future" inspired music video for their new song, "Drive It Like You Stole It," but Cosmo is disheartened when Raphina fails to show up. Later, she reveals that she was set to leave for London with her boyfriend that day, but he abandoned her. Deeply hurt by her lack of disclosure and becoming even more offended by her nonchalance, Cosmo breaks up with Raphina. Because of the break-up, along with his family's problems, Cosmo finds difficulty in writing or playing music, but Brendan urges Cosmo to carry on so that at least he can escape his small-town doldrums and make a better future for himself. An opportunity arises for the band to play live at an end of year party at school. Cosmo manages to strike a friendship with Barry, offering him the chance to be the band's roadie and escape the physically and emotionally abusive relationship he has with his alcoholic father, which he accepts.

Cosmo prepares a new song, "Brown Shoes," mocking Baxter, which the band perform as an encore while distributing homemade masks of Baxter’s face. Raphina arrives before the band finishes their song and reconciles with Cosmo, and both of them leave the party and the school in uproar. After secretly saying his goodbyes to his family later that night, Cosmo and Raphina persuade Brendan to drive them to Dalkey so they can escape in the motor cruiser and head out to sea, following the ferry across the rough Irish Sea to a new life in London.

Dedication

The film's closing titles include the dedication "For brothers everywhere".[7]

Cast

Production

Development

In February 2014, It was announced that John Carney would be directing the film, from a screenplay he wrote about a boy starting a band in order to impress a girl, with Carney producing through his Distressed Films banner, along with Anthony Bregman through his Likely Story Banner, Kevin Frakes for PalmStar Media, and Raj Brinder Singh for Merced Media Partners, with Paul Trijbits and Christian Grass for FilmWave.[9] The film is a semi-autobiographical depiction of Carney's upbringing in Dublin.[10]

Casting

In a July 2014 interview, Carney announced he would be casting unknown actors in the film.[11][12] The unknown actors turned out to be Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Ben Carolan, Mark McKenna, Percy Chamburuka, Conor Hamilton, Karl Rice, and Ian Kenny.[13] In September 2014, it was announced that Aidan Gillen, Maria Doyle Kennedy, and Jack Reynor had joined the cast of the film, portraying the role of a father, wife and son respectively.[14][15]

Filming

Principal photography on the film began in September 2014 in Dublin, Ireland, and concluded on 25 October 2014.[16] Among the locations where the film was shot was at its namesake school Synge Street CBS.[17]

Music

Much of the original music by the band "Sing Street" was composed by 80s veteran composer Gary Clark,[18][19][20] with Carney, Ken and Carl Papenfus of the band Relish,[21] Graham Henderson and Zamo Riffman also receiving writing credits.[22] Adam Levine co-wrote (with Carney and Glen Hansard) and sings on the track "Go Now".[23]

The film also features music of the period from The Cure, A-ha, Duran Duran, The Clash, Hall & Oates, Spandau Ballet, and The Jam.[24]

Soundtrack

The movie soundtrack album was released by Decca Records on 18 March 2016.[25] The track listing is as follows:

  1. "Rock N Roll Is a Risk" (Dialogue) – Jack Reynor
  2. "Stay Clean" – Motörhead
  3. "The Riddle of the Model" – Sing Street
  4. "Rio" – Duran Duran
  5. "Up" – Sing Street
  6. "To Find You" – Sing Street
  7. "Town Called Malice" – The Jam
  8. "In Between Days" – The Cure
  9. "A Beautiful Sea" – Sing Street
  10. "Maneater" – Hall & Oates
  11. "Steppin' Out" – Joe Jackson
  12. "Drive It Like You Stole It" – Sing Street
  13. "Up" (Bedroom Mix) – Sing Street
  14. "Pop Muzik" – M
  15. "Girls" – Sing Street
  16. "Brown Shoes" – Sing Street
  17. "Go Now" – Adam Levine

Release

In February 2014, it was announced that FilmNation Entertainment had been selected to sell international rights to the film.[26] In May 2014, it was announced The Weinstein Company had acquired U.S distribution rights to the film, for $3 million.[27]

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on 24 January 2016.[4] The film screened at the Dublin Film Festival on 18 February 2016,[28] and at South by Southwest on 11 March 2016.[29] The film was released in Ireland on 17 March,[30] and in the United Kingdom on 20 May 2016.[5] It was released in the United States on 15 April 2016.[6]

Critical response

Sing Street holds a 97% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes based on 161 reviews; the average rating is 8.1/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Sing Street is a feel-good musical with huge heart and irresistible optimism, and its charming cast and hummable tunes help to elevate its familiar plotting."[31] Metacritic reports a 79 out of 100 score, based on 37 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[32]

Guy Lodge of Variety.com gave the film a positive review, writing "Perched on a tricky precipice between chippy kitchen-sink realism and lush wish-fulfilment fantasy, this mini-Commitments gets away with even its cutesiest indulgences thanks to a wholly lovable ensemble of young Irish talent and the tightest pop tunes—riffing on Duran Duran and the Cure with equal abandon and affection—any gaggle of Catholic schoolboys could hope to write themselves. Given the right marketing and word of mouth, this Weinstein Co. release could Sing a song of far more than sixpence."[33]

Home media

The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 8 August 2016.[34]

Accolades

Award Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result
Critics' Choice Awards Best Song Gary Clark for Drive it like you stole it Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "Film Distributor's Association - Past, present and future releases". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  2. ↑ "SING STREET (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. 15 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  3. ↑ "Sing Street (2016)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Sing Street". Sundance.org. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Sing Street". FilmDates.co.uk.
  6. 1 2 D'Alessandro, Anthony (23 February 2016). "Weinstein Co. Dates 'Sing Street' & Roberto Duran Boxing Title 'Hands of Stone'". Deadline.com. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  7. ↑ Malahovska, Julia (27 February 2016). "#GFF16 Glasgow Film Festival 2016: SING STREET Review". Screen Relish. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "Sing Street". RTÉ.ie. 18 February 2016.
  9. ↑ McNary, Dave (February 6, 2014). "Berlin: Bono, The Edge on Board for John Carney's 'Sing Street'". Variety.com. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  10. ↑ "'Once' director reteaming with U2 on new movie". HitFix. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  11. ↑ Molumby, Deirdre (1 July 2014). "John Carney Will Cast Unknown Actors in 'Sing Street'". Iftn.ie. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  12. ↑ Douglas, Edward (1 July 2014). "Interview: Once Director John Carney Begins Again". Comingsoon.net. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  13. ↑ "Sing Street Production Notes" (PDF). TWCPublicity.com. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  14. ↑ Butler, Laura (17 September 2014). "Love/Hate's Aiden Gillen will join Jack Reynor for John Carney's new film Sing Street". Independent.ie. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  15. ↑ Brosnan, Sean (17 September 2014). "Aiden Gillen Joins Maria Doyle Kennedy and Jack Reynor in John Carney's Sing Street'.". Iftn.ie. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  16. ↑ SSNInsider Staff (27 October 2014). "On the Set for 10/27/14: Russell Crowe & Ryan Gosling Start Shooting 'The Nice Guys', Kate Beckinsale Wraps 'The Disappointments Room'". SsnInsider.com. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  17. ↑ "Look! Photos from Sing Street set in Dublin". RTÉ TEN. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  18. ↑ http://filmmusicreporter.com/2016/03/17/sing-street-soundtrack-details/
  19. ↑ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/sing-street-sundance-review-859188
  20. ↑ http://www.lgukpublicity.co.uk/uk/images/Prodnotes/SING_STREET_PRODUCTION_NOTES_UK_FINAL.pdf
  21. ↑ http://www.headstuff.org/2016/04/sing-street-review/
  22. ↑ "Sing Street". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  23. ↑ Nolfi, Joey (8 April 2016). "Hear new Adam Levine song 'Go Now' from Sing Street". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  24. ↑ "SING STREET - Official US Trailer - The Weinstein Company". The Weinstein Company. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  25. ↑ "'Sing Street' Soundtrack Details". filmmusicreporter.com. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  26. ↑ Fleming Jr, Mike (6 February 2014). "Berlin: John Carney's 'Sing Street' With U2's Bono And The Edge To Be Sold Offshore By FilmNation". Deadline.com. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  27. ↑ Seetoodeh, Ramin (May 17, 2014). "CANNES: Weinstein Co. Picks Up John Carney's 'Sing Street'". Variety.com. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  28. ↑ Chapman, Adam (17 December 2015). "'Sing Street' to open Dublin film festival". ScreenDaily.com. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  29. ↑ "SXSW schedule Sing Street". South by Southwest. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  30. ↑ "Rave reviews for Carney's Sing Street at Sundance". RTÉ.ie. 25 January 2016.
  31. ↑ "Sing Street (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  32. ↑ "Sing Street reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  33. ↑ Lodge, Guy (25 January 2016). "Sundance Film Review: 'Sing Street'". Variety.com. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  34. ↑ "Sing Street [DVD] [2016]: Amazon.co.uk: Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Aidan Gillen, Lucy Boynton, Jack Reynor, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Kelly Thornton, Ben Carolan, Mark McKenna, Percy Chamburuka, Conor Hamilton, Karl Rice, Ian Kenny, Don Wycherley, John Carney, Anthony Bregman, Kevin Scott Frakes, Christian Grass, Martina Niland, Raj Brinder Singh, Paul Trijbits: DVD & Blu-ray:". Amazon. Retrieved 1 August 2016.

External links

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