Brooklyn (2015)

I keep watching it over and over again. I find the characters so intriguing and yet so secretive that I need to keep watching it to try and learn more about them. I find the character of Tony, played by Emory Cohen, just perfectly acted.

Part of the post- war Irish Diaspora were large numbers of young women many of whom headed for New York where,as the contemporary song has it "Every street's a boulevard". Mrs Keogh's brownstone was home for half a dozen such girls who seem to spend most of their time bitching at one another. Ellis is one such tenant. She is played by Miss S.Ronan as bright but naïve. She meets and,in secret,marries a young Italian plumber before returning to Ireland in response to a family crisis. Subsequently she finds herself on the horns of a dilemma. How she resolves it is the real let - down of this slight film. In fact she seems paralysed by her situation and merely marking time when a solution is thrust upon her. Miss Ronan is fine as Ellis within the limits set by the writer. She is a bit detached and a trifle smug,neither particularly likeable attributes. Mr Broadbent is lovely as Father Flood - everybody's dream priest and fellow Brit Miss Walters sometimes staggers on the brink of Stage Oirishness but always manages to right herself at the last moment. Opinions on "Brooklyn" vary widely,but I believe it's not as good as it's proponents say,nor as bad as it's detractors. The highpoint for me was the down and outs' Christmas dinner. "These are the men that dug the tunnels and built the bridges" says Jim Broadbent - the most memorable line in the film.

I enjoyed the movie as something for light entertainment. I would call it "gentle drama." It was a visually appealing film, and I did enjoy that more than the actual script. One thing that is a pet peeve of mine and very, very common in the UK setting movies and television mini-series, is everything is perfect: the clothes, the hair, the immaculate homes, the neatness. Never a hair out of place, or a home-made hairdo or makeup. Supposed to believe that this young woman is not rich, yet her hair, makeup and clothing are perfect. That annoys me so much in UK films. American films are much more able to portray the messiness and imperfection of real life when it comes to clothes, hair and surroundings.

Brooklyn is one of those movies you think might possibly be passed over in this era of CGI action fodder. Only to find it has become a record breaker of its genre. Perhaps screenplay writer, Nick Hornby and director, John Crowley may never top the level of perfection they have achieved with this mature production. Neither of these men lived through the 50's - yet have avoided falling into the trap of adding too many 'modern' touches - creating a near perfect representation of the life and times of that era. Art direction and cinematography add further important creative technical touches. Young Saoirse Ronan does wonders with her important role as Eilis, an Irish girl facing the challenging step of leaving home and country - to start a new life in a strange land. With a flawless cast this often sad tale is brought to the screen with all the nuances of real-life sparklingly intact. Good to see the always reliable Jim Broadbent being used to good advantage. Congratulations are certainly due to all involved with transferring Colm Toibin's descriptive novel to the cinema (and maybe even adding helpful touches along the way). A rich addition to the overall impact comes from Canadian composer Michael Brook's truly beautiful score.Strong recommendation for lovers of quality motion pictures examining the morals, difficulties, and times, of those who went before us.