Should you watch this at weekend movie ticket prices? Yes.
Should you buy the DVD? Nope.
Score: 4.0/5
Secret ending? No.
Running time: 112 minutes (~1.75 hours)
“Brooklyn” is a romance based on the novel of the same name, about a young lady named Eilis who travels from a small town in Ireland to Brooklyn in search of a better life. She falls in love with plumber Tony, and finds herself torn between her new and old family. It stars Saoirse Ronan (Eilis Lacey), Emory Cohen (Tony Fiorello), Domhnall Gleeson (Jim Farrell), Jim Broadbent (Father Flood), Julie Walters (Madge Kehoe), Brid Brennan (Miss Kelly), and Jane Brennan (Mrs Lacey).
“Brooklyn” is like the Jane Austen novel you never read, except set in the 1950s. It’s a coming of age story that’s brought to life by a stellar cast and poignant detail, and gives us a heroine who’s strong yet vulnerable. Her growth from a hapless young girl to a woman of stunning maturity is at once admirable and relatable, giving us hope in overcoming the adversity and obstacles in our own lives.
Highlights
Wonderful supporting cast
Jim Broadbent as the benevolent Father Flood and Julie Walters as the stern but kind Madge Kehoe anchor the supporting cast by serving as Allis’ surrogate parents in Brooklyn. Their seasoned performances bring life to these otherwise straightforward roles, and provide a good balance to Allis’ seemingly ditzy housemates. Even so, those housemates grow to become Allis’ trusted sisters, completing her new family in Brooklyn and adding a touch of sweet sisterhood to her immigrant life.
Beautiful romance
The romance grows from a shy, awkward mismatch into a love that transcends oceans. Their tentative, insecure first steps are so sincere that you can’t help rooting for them to be together. The love story isn’t held together by grand, sweeping gestures, but through genuine chemistry between the actors. It’s a romance that’s deeply personal rather than flamboyantly epic.
Scathing dialogue
The barbs traded during dialogues sting with wit and candour. It’s the type of banter between friends and family that we all recognise, where it’s a ribbing that’s devoid of malicious intent. You enjoy the repartee not just because of their cleverly worded insults, but because underneath their spoken words is true love and concern for each other.
Sense of family and duty
Domestic dinner scenes take up a large part of the film, and this sounds rather boring — how interesting can a group of people eating and talking be? Yet “Brooklyn” paints such an accurate picture of family dinners that you can’t help being fascinated by their authentic depiction of life. Thus, when Ailis is later conflicted about her responsibilities to either family, you can understand just what she treasures about them, and the harsh reality of her situation.
Letdowns
Introduction is unfocused
The opening scenes don’t make it clear who the protagonist is until her journey to Brooklyn. Until then, it’s a huge jumble of characters who all seem to be jostling for screen time. It works to Ailis favour’ though, given her characterisation, but being more explicit could have aided in understanding.
Like Jane Austen’s famous quote, “Brooklyn” might be a little bit of ivory on which so fine a brush works, but its tight focus rewards you with heartwarming detail.
“Brooklyn” opens in cinemas 18 February, 2016 (Thursday).
This review was first published on Yahoo.
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