'Brooklyn' A Review

Brooklyn is a period drama about an Irish woman immigrating to the US in 1952. At the urging of her sister Rose(Fiona Glascott) Eilis(Saoirse Ronan) leaves a small town in Ireland, Enniscorthy, for gainful employment and potential opportunity in the US. After initially struggling with homesickness Eilis eventually finds her footing, becoming comfortable at her job, befriending her housemates, enrolling in night classes, and meeting a charming Italian man Tony(Emory Cohen). Her new life is jeopardized when a family emergency calls her back to Ireland and she reconnects with a former classmate Jim(Domhnall Gleeson).

The film's performances oscillate between dramatic realism and corny melodrama. Ronan as the lead gives a wonderful almost lyrical performance as Eilis however emotional moments that would work better with a soft hand are played with such force they become unbelievable, seemingly not a fault of Ronan or any of the other actors but more a directing issue.

The stakes of the film are small and, other than the moments of melodrama, played with a restrained pastoral understatement. This is more an immigrant fairy tale in an idealized 1950's New York as opposed to anything that approaches historical reality. We see this woman make a big leap, come into her own, then face a hard choice. But there is never a point where she is actually in danger, there is almost nothing in the film that can actually be called conflict, there is nothing much to latch onto. In short the film is incredibly safe and despite Ronan's excellent turn almost text book Oscar bait.

Pleasant but not challenging. Romantic but not realistic.

Rent It.