Monday, 28 September 2015

Living in America: Review of Brooklyn

TIFF EXCLUSIVE 

Brooklyn

Director: John Crowley

By Alex Watson




John Crowley's Brooklyn was one of the more charming affairs of the 2015 Toronto Film Festival and thanks to a strong central performance, this coming-of-age story is a sweet and wholesome affair. Although it won't be the most arresting affair of 2015, this movie still accurately portrays the struggles and sometimes overwhelming feel of arriving in a new land. Crowley's direction is steady, but Nick Hornby's script is one that lacks the needed punch in some areas.

Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan) is an Irish girl who has just immigrated to 1950's New York due the generosity of priest Father Flood (Jim Broadbent). Relocating to the heavily Irish neighborhood, Brooklyn she at first is desperate to return her old and trouble-free life. Soon she begins to embrace living the American Dream and romance with Italian-American Plumber Tony (Emory Cohen) blossoms. However, when a tragedy hits back home, Eilis returns to Ireland where soon she faces a tough choice. 

Brooklyn is a movie that is predictable yet wonderful tale of a young woman entering adulthood. Eilis is the main element that keeps Crowley's movie on its toes throughout. When we first meet her she is a shy and retiring girl who feels hopelessly lost in the Big Apple. Sat nervously around the table at her boarding house with other gossiping girl residents, she longs to go home. When Eilis begins to broaden her horizon the movie takes on a wonderful naturalistic feel. Through this she begins to excel at her job at a department store and while taking a bookkeeping course she discovers brains she never knew possible. 

Meeting Tony is the crossing point where Eilis grows from a girl lost to a woman on the cusp of entering a new world. Tony is a man who although very much blue-collar, is a considerate and impossibly lovely. He is very much the reason she begins to open her eyes to the wonderful life opportunity she has. Together this pairing lifts the movie from above ordinary ground and allows the story to glide along nicely. The pangs of first love are one that are truly heart grabbing and will no doubt melt even the coldest of hearts. 

Smartly Crowley and Hornby change things up in the last act as a family tragedy forces Eilis to return home. While back her native Emerald Isle, she cruelly comes across the perfect life she would have dreamed of in her small town. Another challenging factor rears its head in the shape of Jim Farrell (Domnhall Gleason) a man from a wealthy family. Jim is sophisticated, well-educated and is one of the villages most sought after bachelors. In short, he is all the things that Tony is not and Eilis slowly finds herself more taken with her old life. Although she assure people she will shortly be returning, a lingering doubt soon creeps over. 

This movie is a perfect star vehicle for demonstrating the talents of Saoirse Ronan and once more the talented Irish actress is a formidable presence. Firmly carrying the movie from the first frame, Ronan is an actress who is able to effectively convey the fears, doubts and later joys of Eilis. One of the growing talents in the film world, this movie is one she shines brightly in. Emory Cohen also does well as Tony is able to bring across a real easy-going yet committed feel to his character. Julie Walters once more is a welcome presence as Eilis very stern yet motherly landlady Madge Kehoe. 

Brooklyn is a movie worth seeing purely for the powerful performance by Ronan. Crowley may have won hearts in Toronto, but I wouldn't expect to see this nominated movie come awards time. For anyone who has ever found themselves alone in a strange land, this will make for very familiar viewing!.

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