Brooklyn (A-) Movie Review
Brooklyn stars Saoirse Ronan as Eilis, an Irish immigrant just come to New York City to start a life for herself. She finds life in her new environment challenging as she is plagued with homesickness, but this all fades when she meets a charming Italian plumber named Tony, played by Emory Cohen. When unforeseen circumstances call her back to Ireland, she feels caught between the two nations, unable to see where her future life may lie.
Saoirse Ronan is startlingly good in this old-fashioned love story that is simple in its pleasures but reckons a complex moral tale. Ronan's performance is a tremendous exercise in subtlety. Every thought of Eilis' registers on Ronan's face but nothing about her performance is ham-fisted or obvious. She's graceful and powerful, easily making this one of the best performances of the year. Emory Cohen is a real find here as Eilis' goofy but affectionate boyfriend. The chemistry between Ronan and Cohen is palpable, making them a pleasure to watch on screen. The sweet interactions between the two never failed to make me smile.
Nick Hornby, celebrated author and screenwriter of last year's Wild, penned this beautifully simple screenplay that touts Eilis as a sympathetic young woman, torn between her past and future. She's so well fleshed out here and when audiences ask for more strong female characters, point them to this film, as Eilis isn't as concerned with the boy she ends up with than what's best for her. Also, Hornby's dialogue is quite sweet. I caught myself smiling throughout much of this film.
The adorable contents of this film are wrapped in gorgeous cinematography from Yves Belanger, illuminating the beauty but harsh differences of both landscapes (1950s New York City and post-war Ireland), and with impeccable costume and production design.
John Crowley's direction, along with just about everything else in the film, is great. His division of the film into three different visual movements (pre-NYC Ireland, NYC, and post-NYC Ireland) is an interesting and fun idea that works well. But beyond "interesting and fun ideas," he has a real understanding for Eilis, her struggles, and captures it well. In a time where most romantic films are too sugary and forced, Crowley crafts a simple and effective romance.
There were some plot points that were driven by chance rather than anything logical and I understand that that happens in real life. Still, I felt like some decisions Eilis was supposed to make on her own were made for her by other characters.
But all in all, Brooklyn accomplishes what most romances cannot do, and it does it with such style and beauty. The film loses a bit of its steam when Eilis returns to Ireland but Ronan never ceases to be completely captivating and masterful. There's something about an excellently told love story such as this that could delight any cynic's heart.
FINAL GRADE: A-
MPAA RATING: PG-13 for a scene of sexuality and brief strong language
Saoirse Ronan is startlingly good in this old-fashioned love story that is simple in its pleasures but reckons a complex moral tale. Ronan's performance is a tremendous exercise in subtlety. Every thought of Eilis' registers on Ronan's face but nothing about her performance is ham-fisted or obvious. She's graceful and powerful, easily making this one of the best performances of the year. Emory Cohen is a real find here as Eilis' goofy but affectionate boyfriend. The chemistry between Ronan and Cohen is palpable, making them a pleasure to watch on screen. The sweet interactions between the two never failed to make me smile.
Nick Hornby, celebrated author and screenwriter of last year's Wild, penned this beautifully simple screenplay that touts Eilis as a sympathetic young woman, torn between her past and future. She's so well fleshed out here and when audiences ask for more strong female characters, point them to this film, as Eilis isn't as concerned with the boy she ends up with than what's best for her. Also, Hornby's dialogue is quite sweet. I caught myself smiling throughout much of this film.
The adorable contents of this film are wrapped in gorgeous cinematography from Yves Belanger, illuminating the beauty but harsh differences of both landscapes (1950s New York City and post-war Ireland), and with impeccable costume and production design.
John Crowley's direction, along with just about everything else in the film, is great. His division of the film into three different visual movements (pre-NYC Ireland, NYC, and post-NYC Ireland) is an interesting and fun idea that works well. But beyond "interesting and fun ideas," he has a real understanding for Eilis, her struggles, and captures it well. In a time where most romantic films are too sugary and forced, Crowley crafts a simple and effective romance.
There were some plot points that were driven by chance rather than anything logical and I understand that that happens in real life. Still, I felt like some decisions Eilis was supposed to make on her own were made for her by other characters.
But all in all, Brooklyn accomplishes what most romances cannot do, and it does it with such style and beauty. The film loses a bit of its steam when Eilis returns to Ireland but Ronan never ceases to be completely captivating and masterful. There's something about an excellently told love story such as this that could delight any cynic's heart.
FINAL GRADE: A-
MPAA RATING: PG-13 for a scene of sexuality and brief strong language