Director John Crowley
Genre Drama | Romance
Cast Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, Domhnall Gleeson, Jim Broadbent
Rating PG-13
Release Date November 25th, 2015
“An Irish immigrant lands in 1950s Brooklyn, where she quickly falls into a romance with a local. When her past catches up with her, however, she must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within.”
I finally got around to seeing Brooklyn which seems to have been given a wider release thanks to the Best Picture nomination for the upcoming Academy Awards in February 2016. Directed by the relatively unknown John Crowley and starring up-and-coming Irish actress Saoirse Ronan (pronounced Sertia like Inertia according to my good buddy Ryan Gosling), Emory Cohen, and Domhnall Gleeson, it is a drama that unfolds in 1950’s Brooklyn. After reading about how amazing the film was supposed to be for what seemed like months, I was glad to finally have the opportunity to make my own assessment.
I am pleased to report that this little gem is as advertised and worth every penny. As a fan of quality filmmaking I feel that the ultimate reward comes when you leave the theater feeling like you gained something from what you just watched instead of yet another wasted few hours. Brooklyn felt very much like an experience and it comes as close as possible to the feeling you get when finishing a good book, a feeling that will surely resonate with you for the remainder of the evening. The story comes to life with each and every scene and the acting is top-notch. Ronan steals the show as expected but Emory Cohen (The Place Beyond The Pines) and Domhnall Gleeson (About Time, The Revenant) more than pull their weight making sure the film is a success on all fronts. Brooklyn will feel like a delicious meal from a renowned chef and the final few minutes will be that delicious dessert you were yearning for the entire time.
Brooklyn is a prime example of quality filmmaking and is the “total package” in my humble opinion. It is very well written, finely acted, vividly detailed, and surprisingly well paced for its runtime just shy of 2 hours. Regardless of the inevitable trash talking that will surely come my way I would happily watch Brooklyn again and would even consider purchasing the Blu-ray for the right price. I like to consider myself more of a leader and less of a follower and if my compass leads me to a drama built on a complex love story then so be it. Brooklyn feels like you are watching Ronan’s character grow up right before your eyes and it is a pleasurable experience to say the least. Brooklyn might not come away with best picture at the Academy Awards due to what I consider some stiff competition with The Revenant and The Big Short, but it undoubtedly deserves the recognition. Highly recommended.
