REVIEW: “Brooklyn” is enchanting coming-of-age tale
By Claire Alongi,
Bluedevilhub.com Staff–
Put simply, “Brooklyn” is a lovely movie.
It’s not a movie deserving of big, grand words like “fantastic” or “sensational,” only because “Brooklyn” is not a sensational story. There are no explosions, or superb romantic gestures (though it’s certainly romantic).
“Brooklyn”–based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Colm Tóibínis–is lovely because it just…is. It is a quiet story, but truthful, portraying the ordinary in an extraordinary way.
The John Crowley-directed film follows the story of Irish girl Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan) as she makes the journey across the ocean to settle in Brooklyn during the 1950s. Along the way she deals with crippling homesickness, a new job and first love in the form of a charming young Italian man named Tony (Emory Cohen). When tragedy strikes, she returns to Ireland and is faced with another potential suitor, Jim Farrell (Domhnall Gleeson).
Don’t be deterred if you feel your ‘love triangle’ senses tingling. Unlike other love triangles in recent years, most notably Team Edward and Team Jacob, Eilis’s confusion between Jim and Tony doesn’t feel like a fickle plot device to spice up the story. Instead, the men represent paths that Eilis must choose between in order to determine the rest of her life.
And to whittle “Brooklyn” down to simply the romantic aspect of the story would be doing the film an injustice. First and foremost, “Brooklyn” is the story of Eilis maturing from a girl to a young woman. Ronan handles this job spectacularly. She fits so effortlessly into the role sometimes it’s hard to see where actress stops and character begins.
It’s been more than eight years since she won an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Briony in “Atonement,” but Ronan could find herself on the short list again with “Brooklyn.”
Ronan isn’t the only one to watch; Cohen as Eilis’s Brooklyn beau Tony delivers a sweet and heart-wrenching performance, as does Gleeson as Jim. Other supporting members to take note of are Julie Walters as the feisty Mrs. Kehoe, and Jim Broadbent as the wise Father Flood.
The cinematography is stunning: crisp, clear and saturated with vibrant color. It immerses the viewer from the beaches of Coney Island to the small dance halls of Ireland. The script (written by Oscar nominee Nick Hornby) and the moving score by Michael Brook are icing on the delightful cake that is “Brooklyn.”
If you’re looking for an uplifting, coming-of-age tale with a side of romance, it is a must see. Actually, regardless of what you’re looking for, just go see it; it is definitely worth the watch.
