Film maker Carney certainly has a formula, and it appears to work for him. Flora and Son certainly feels very much like Once, Begin Again, and Sing Street, but even though his thing might be a bit repetitive, it remains very entertaining and charming and will have you once again (see what I did there) singing along.
A big part of what makes Flora and Son work is Flora herself. Hewson is delightful and completely magnetic as the mom-who-shouldn't-have-been-but-is. And as she begins to find her own path through music, even with all her inappropriate detours, her story is both relatable (even for those whose life is nothing life Flora's) and remarkable.
But as with all of Carney's films it is the music which truly makes it. Flora and Son leans less into the polished and focuses on characters just making their music organically, either strumming on a guitar or sampling and rapping. But the tunes are catchy and hold up with some of the famous Carney film music.
Maybe Carney will surprise us by doing something different with his next film. Or maybe he'll stay true to what he does well. Either way I'll be there to watch it.
Flora and Son
Starring: Eve Hewson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Orén Kinlan, Jack Reynor
Writer/Director: John Carney
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