Power Ballad: Music to our ears

Power Ballad (2026) • View trailerFour stars (out of five); rated R, for relentless profanity and some drug useAvailable via: Movie theatersBy Derrick Bang • Published in The Davis Enterprise, 6.7.26 Irish writer/director John Carney clearly loves music as much as I admire his films. Starting with 2006’s charming Once — with its poignant, Academy Award-winning song “Falling Slowly” — and continuing through 2013’s Begin Again, 2016’s Sing Street and 2023’s Flora and Son — Carney has found fresh ways to explore the complicated, sometimes maddening relationship his characters have with music, and their muse. After a blend of swapped stories, too much alcohol, and a mutual love of songwriting,Danny (Nick Jonas, left) and Rick (Paul Rudd) play original tunes for each other.His newest beguiling drama, co-written with Peter McDonald, focuses on the frequently shattering impact today’s corporate, money-driven music industry has on talented individuals who don’t ... quite ... make it.Back in…