Displaying items by tag: Marcella Plunkett

POWER BALLAD

Ireland/US, 2026, 98 minutes, Colour.

Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Peter McDonald, Marcella Plunkett, Beth Fallon, Jack Reynor, Havana Rose Liu.

Directed by John Carney.

Drama about music, songs and lyrics, creativity, performance, the wonderful satisfaction that a composer has in creating something beautiful. But, this is a story with some edge. But it is humane, sometimes funny, sometimes with regrets, but a satisfying ending.

The film is the work of writer-director, John Carney, himself a singer and bass player, composer (from the some of the music in this film). His films have had music very centrally in their dramas, popular successes with such films as Once and Sing Street.

The action takes place mainly in Carney’s Ireland, in Dublin, are some sequences in the United States, especially a concert performance in Los Angeles. However, the central character is American, a very fine performance by Paul Rudd, always adept comedy, but also having the opportunity to play music and sing. His character, Rick Power (which as many of the title) has settled in Dublin, married with a daughter, part of the band who said at weddings. (Paul Rudd’s biography mentions that he sang and played at bar/that Mrs in his young days.)

In the meantime, a young American singer, Nick Jonas, who in real life has had this kind of career with his brothers and then as a soloist, is invited to sing with a group at a wedding. He is genial, Rick is happy to join him in singing, a happy success. In the aftermath means that the two of them spend a night, at the piano, wrecking, Rick sharing some of his compositions, a great learning experience for Danny who gifts Rick with a classic guitar.

Where to from here? Home, Danny’s scrums, please and sings a melody that Rick had shared with him. Encouraged by his girlfriend, manipulated by his manager, Danny records the song – instant hit, millions of followers, rapturous audiences and concerts, everybody singing it.

At a shopping mall, Rick it – and the rest of the film is the drama, the impact on Week, no proof that he ever wrote the song, calls to the manager, legal issues, his family expecting a financial windfall. And quite an effect on Rick and his feeling exploited.

In fact, the aftermath has very serious overtones for Rick, his family, his band, but it is also played with great good humour, a Russian visit to LA, an encounter (understatement) with Danny and pleasing ending journey at a concert, for Rick back home – and a final short sequence with a pleasing moral for the whole story, especially for Rick.

All in all, a pleasing experience and a nice song.

1. The title, songs, sock soft rock ballads, the central character of Rick Power?
2. The work of the director, musician, singer, composer, his films are musical themes?
3. Composition of the song? Rick, his story, American, his band, the initial sequences, the credits, Rick and his playing to the fans, then reality, not successful, the Irish tool, meeting his life, marriage, the birth of his daughter, staying in Ireland, his group, singing at weddings? Satisfied with his life? The encounter with Danny, spending the evening, the piano, songs, the lyrics? The friendship?
4. The Irish setting, Dublin, homes and streets, the weddings, celebrations? The contrast with US, Los Angeles, concerts, the venues, backstage? The LA mansions?
5. The musical score, the background score, the range of songs, the key song and its repetition? The chorus? The range of cities, the fans? The full song at the end?
6. Rick, his friendship with Sandy, manager, covered and, very Irish? The band, the performances, the crowds? Long time with the group, the van, the instruments, performances, the response of the newly married’s, those attending?
7. At the Castle, the accommodation, the double bunks in the small room, the performance, the couple asking for Danny Wilson to singing, his popularity, his presence, the singing, ripped joining in, bonding? The evening, Danny his vast room, the piano, the songs, the lyrics, the happy ending? The gift of the classical guitar?
8. Rick, the mall, hearing the song, his reaction? The popularity, online, the millions of hits? The effect on him? Disbelief, the phone calls to his manager, no response? The group asking for the song, his refusal, the fight? The clash with Sandy? At home, claiming the authorship, the response of his wife and daughter, not supporting him? Becoming paranoid, leaving home, asking Sandy for help?
9. Danny, America, lack of success, the reputation of the boy band, his manager, pressurising him, his girlfriend? Hearing the song, her response? The manager, the discussions about the authorship, the pressure, the performance, the record, the success, the fans?
10. Rick, decision to go to LA, with Sandy, the dream on the plane that he reconciled, Sandy and his behaviour, laughing at the comedy is on the plane?a, the ruse for getting behind the scenes with the pretended phone call, meeting the couple from Dublin, the address the party, getting in, Sandy, playing the guitar, ripped finding Danny following up to the sauna, Danny and his lifestyle?
11. The confrontation, the issue of money, ripped not wanting money, wanting the truth, the fight, admitting the truth, falling over the balcony, Rick jumping, the manager and the pursuit?
12. Back home, the issue of money, wife and daughter wanting it, ripped talking about it but wanting only the truth? His daughter playing the videos, the discovery of playing it for her when she is a little, the story that he had told to Danny, support of his wife and daughter?
13. The reconciliation with the band, Sandy and his role? The performances at the wedding? The request of the song, singing it? His explanation?
14. The moral of the story, truth, reputation, creativity, the episode with the young stealing from the busker in the street and Rick’s reaction, the final moment, giving the busker the role of money, a happy moral ending?