Thursday, January 28, 2016

Review of BROOKLYN: Saoirse's Showcase

January 28, 2016




Most of its buzz surrounding "Brooklyn" comes from the lead performance of Irish actress Saoirse Ronan, which has so far earned her Best Actress nominations from the Golden Globes, Critics Choice, BAFTA, SAG and of course, Oscar. It also earned two more nominations for the 88th Oscar Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay and the biggest prize of all, Best Picture itself. Even if the trailer suggests that this film would be a simple sedate period romance which is not exactly my cup of tea, it still has to be seen to see what the big buzz is all about.

It was 1952. Eilis Lacey is a young woman from a small Irish town who worked for a mean old maid, Miss Kelly. Thanks to her older sister Rose, Eilis bravely accepts the opportunity to travel and try her luck in Brooklyn in New York City, where a lot of Irish folk have migrated to seek greener pastures. Meeting the kind Tony Fiorello helped Eilis buck her homesickness and gives her inspiration. However, when a family emergency necessitated her to return back to her Irish hometown, she found that she may actually have a place there after all. Will she be able to go back to Brooklyn and to Tony who was anxiously waiting for her return?

It is clearly evident why most of the awards buzz is on Ms. Saoirse Ronan. She is resplendently luminescent in her portrayal of Eilis. We have seen this young actress grow up with her two other Oscar-nominated roles in "Atonement" (2007) and in "The Lovely Bones" (2009), where she played unusually complex roles way for someone her very young age. She is only 21 years old now, and this is already her third Oscar nomination, her first for the lead role. In contrast with her two previous roles, her role as Eilis is pretty straightforward. However, Ms. Ronan played her with so much elegance and grace, an uplifting performance of a role which may be seem so ordinary in the hands of a lesser actress. 

Emory Cohen played Tony with the requisite charm and gentility required of this critical role as Eilis' first love. Cohen played Tony so well that Domhnall Gleeson had a hard time competing with him as Jim Farrell, the boy Eilis meets in Ireland when she goes back. The veteran actors Jim Broadbent and Julie Walters do the most they can with their limited roles as Fr. Flood (Eilis' sponsor to Brooklyn) and Ms. Madge (Eilis' landlady). Northern Irish actress Brid Brennan played with starchy spite that most memorably hateful character, Miss Kelly. I liked how she dripped with bitterness with her every line.

As a whole, "Brooklyn" is a pleasant enough film with its clean crisp cinematography and excellent production design. I did feel that the story was too simple and old-fashioned for a film competing for Best Picture. In fact, when it ended, I thought "that's it?". I think the chances of winning the big prize are quite slim, given the more challenging subject matter of the other nominated films. Its primary conceit is rightfully the graceful and dignified central performance of Saoirse Ronan. She is the main reason this film deserves to be seen. 7/10. 


22 comments:

  1. Good one! Brooklyn is yet to release in Singapore. Actually I like to watch films set in that era. Will keep your review in mind before deciding to watch this one.

    ReplyDelete
  2. this is a really elaborate and descriptive review, thanks for sharing. I might go and watch it soon!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Looks like a good movie. I'd love to watch it. Thanks for the review. Well written. Keep up the great work.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's like getting to know more of Ellis all throughout the movie. It can be seen how she's a well-drawn, empowered woman. Hers could be a similar life story of other common people.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I like movies that are set in a different period. Brooklyn sounds promising. I look forward to watching it and how they execute the old-fashioned setting.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This movie seems promising as im imdb it have 7/10 point review.So would love to watch it as soon as it releases.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've always wanted to travel to Brooklyn. The movie seems interesting and I hope to be able to watch this one.

    ReplyDelete
  8. This movie won't be screening in my city. But I'll watch it nevertheless. Thanks for the descriptive review.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This movie won't be screening in my city. But I'll watch it nevertheless. Thanks for the descriptive review.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Classic film and seems to have a good story plot. Im not into old scene film. For sure my parents would love to watch this

    ReplyDelete
  11. So curious about this 'BROOKLYN' movie. Why they have many nominations and awards. Thanks for the review Fred, this will help me in my watching.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have not seen this film yet. Yesterday, I watched "The Benefactor" with my husband and at the end, he also asked, "That's it?". I guess, like "Brooklyn" the film may have no grand finale but its a feel good movie about the main character in the story.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I've never heard of this film. It seems like something that I would watch. Thank your for the honest review.

    ReplyDelete
  14. oh wow. this looks like a good movie tho i dont watch a lot of them. the lead star sure is a great actress for gaining so much recognition.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Interesting. I also thought that the movie would just be the usual period romance, but seeing how you praised Saoirse, I might just watch it soon.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I haven't watched this! There's quite a few cool films recently which deserves to be watched!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Saoirse Ronan looks like a really great actress with all her accolades. I think the award worthiness of the film makes it a must watch movie for us.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hmmm.. I'm not familiar with the actress. The blurb is like those I see in books. I know the Lovely Bones book, but I haven't read it yet. At least you still gave it a passing rate, we'll see if I like this movie too.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I've heard a lot about Brooklyn but have yet to see the movie. After reading your review I think I most definitely have to see it now.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I've heard so much about Brooklyn but I'm yet to watch it. Every metro station here in London has a flex ad of Brooklyn. Somehow even I'm not a big fan of period romance and didn't feel like watching it. Your review sounds interesting. Let me see....

    ReplyDelete
  21. This is a great story however its not screening in my country. I might have to watch it online.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I admit I heard about this movie but, after seeing the trailer I decided I don't want to watch it. Not that it is bad, but that I'm not in the mood for the story. Your review kind of confirms my decision.

    ReplyDelete