Brooklyn

[kevinknapman]

Saw a preview of Brooklyn last weekend followed by a Q&A with director John Crowley.

A film version of the Colm Toibin novel adapted by Nick Hornby, about a young Irish girl in the 1950s who leaves home and her sister and mother to work in New York. There, struggling with homesickness, she falls in love.
After tragedy strikes back home, she returns and finds herself having to choose between two men and two countries

Though it looked from the trailers like it might be an overly sentimental slushfest, the film itself is surprisingly beautiful and moving.
Less surprising is that Saoirse Ronan is outstanding in it. She really is one of the finest young actresses around at the moment and continues to impress.
Both Emory Cohen and Domhnall Gleeson are also very good as the two men in her life.
While Jim Broadbent and Julie Walters are wonderful in support (Scenes set around the dinner table at Walter's boarding house where Ronan lives are hilarious).

Admittedly its low budget is occasionally apparent, with a couple of obvious green screen moments.
But the story and characters shine through thanks to a decent and often funny script and great performances from all involved.

Essential for the romantic at heart and well worth seeing.

[Beate]

To be honest, I would have liked more drama, shouting, tears and undecisiveness. It was all so restrained and calm. Yes, she cried when she was homesick, but the last half hour felt rushed and without any real dilemma. I always knew how she was going to decide, and I haven't read he book yet (it's on the library list). The acting was good though and some scenes hilarious, especially when lots of other people were involved, distracting from her amenable, softly spoken blandness.

Btw, it's not that much progress to have put on your swimming costume under your clothes already. You still have to do the changing afterwards, unless you'd like to put on your clothes over your wet costume!

7/10

[D-Fens]

Yeah I expected there to be a real spark with somebody back home maybe as the new centre of attention at the dance but there wasn't really any conflict and as the focus of the movie was entirely romantic it felt a bit like she'd 'settled' for someone, which can't have been the point?

[jojojoanne]

I enjoyed this film. I have family in the West of Ireland and even today certain scenes in the film reminded me of them and where they live!

Nice to see and chat with Beate!

[Cortone]

I absolutely adored this film and have no problems with understanding her decision at the end of the film. It made perfect sense at many levels. It was clear that she missed Ireland and had been very unhappy at times in New York. The ending was fitting, though, and was signalled.

Interestingly, Variety said the period flavour here was weak, but I disagree. Perhaps it could have been developed further, but a couple sitting next to me were clearly reminiscing about the period, the fashions, the music, etc. (He sang along at times!)

This film made me think of my dad's cousins and their family, who came to visit us - quite some time after this film, and when I was still very young. We did not have 'plenty'. I could tell the US based cousins pitied us - I remember them being shocked that we did not have a fridge at that time, and our cousins would not drink unrefrigerated milk. And our clothes were handmade by my mother. (Identical for my sister and I, and I then got the hand-me-down when my sis grew too big for them.) Theirs were not...

Maybe the perception of the period perspective depends on which side of the Atlantic you are on!

[kevinknapman]

Second viewing this morning and just as wonderful as the first.
Probably even more emotional despite or perhaps because I already knew what was going to happen.
Though I do agree the Ireland section towards the end does feel rushed in comparison to the New York section.
A minor flaw though.
It also took me a second viewing to figure out where I'd seen the actress playing the American girl staying in the same boarding house as Eilis before. Felicity in Arrow (although she does look quite different).

[prettyxcool]

Brilliant cast and witty script. Both Saoirse Ronan and Emory Cohen are outstanding. Sad, funny and emotional - wept buckets. A charming period romance, beautifully told. Julie Walters is so funny. 10/10

[funthing29]

Romantic without being schmaltzy. The film is carried by an excellent performance from Ronan with a strong supporting cast. It strikes a good balance between emotion and drama without being corny although the pacing in the third act feels in a hurry and out of place with the pacing of the rest of the film. 8/10.

[cookiemonster]

I really enjoyed this - I didn't know much about the story before I saw it, so I wasn't spoiled too much! As others have said, the last bit in Ireland did seem a bit rushed somehow, and I thought the ending was a bit bland. Very sad in the middle though - it did make me cry!

While I expected it to end pretty much the way it did, it was nice to see a film that wasn't totally predictable, and kept me entertained the whole way through. :)

[alythonian]

I quite enjoyed this and the leads and supporting cast were all excellent. Can only agree that the ending seemed rushed and just sort of landed on the audience. Another 10 minutes would have helped.
7/10