Brooklyn Review (2015)

Brooklyn

  The story of a young Irish girl who moves to Brooklyn, New York in search of a better life, is a simplistic one, but it has more depth than you'd think. Through Eilis Lacey's journey, we are taken on an emotional roller coaster and there is nobody better to bring us on that ride than Saoirse Ronan. Ronan has a way of making her characters effortlessly likable. With her bright blue eyes and understated, nuanced performances, she draws the audience in and keeps us there. Her subtle acting style allows her to convey the perfect amount of sentiment without making it feel contrived.

  Brooklyn is good old fashioned storytelling, driven by interesting characters with a lot at stake. Its simplicity is a breath of fresh air, beautifully shot and crafted. This is a story about the pursuit of happiness and the loss that goes along with that. In search of a better life in America, Eilis must leave behind her family and her country. 

  The supporting cast, Emory Cohen and Domhnall Gleeson, are our lead lady's love interests, as shown in the trailer. They did a great job with their characters, but I wish that the romance aspect of the story would've been handled with slightly more care. At a certain point, there is a bit of a love triangle and one of the decisions Eilis makes, in my opinion, distances the audience from her character. Something that could've been avoided, lost almost all sympathy from me for her and she almost didn't gain it back. Aside from this, the film had a lot to say and it did so profoundly. Brooklyn is a charming, coming of age tale that resonates with the audience and packs a punch that will leave you thinking about it long after you leave the theater. Elevated by superb acting and poignant elegance, I give Brooklyn 7 out of 10 stars. (Very good)