Brooklyn – a movie review by Tony Baksa 12/21/2015
Rating – 4 Suns
It’s like a cozy and engrossing curl-up-in-a-big chair
novel. “Brooklyn” is a marvel. Director John Crowley has delivered a richly
sentimental tale full of nostalgia. The story involves a young ambitious Irish
immigrant, Eilis (Saoirse Ronam), looking for a life she can call her own in
1952. She is blessed with a wonderful array of characters who whether they know
it or not support her expectations.
We first encounter Eilis every bit the young Irish lassie
preparing to immigrate to Brooklyn, NY. Her uncle has financed her transition
also setting up lodging for her at a boarding house for young ladies in
Brooklyn. Eilis is very much the fish out of water. She lands a job at a
department store. After an initial period of shyness and homesickness, Eilis
warms to Brooklyn and Brooklyn warms to Eilis. She begins to assimilate making
friends and eventually falling in love with a charming young Italian, Tony.
What seems like stereotypical situations and characters soon
revert to an original and very specific story. Eilis’s new life is put to the
test by conflict. She returns to Ireland under sad circumstances. Meant to be a
short visit, Eilis is drawn back into the comfort of familiarity in her Irish
town. To complicate matters, she seems to be falling for a local Irish lad. Is
Tony becoming a distant memory? She prolongs her stay unable to decide if she
should return to America. An incident involving an infamous local merchant is
the catalyst that propels our young heroine into action.
I’ve left out many plot details because “Brooklyn” is best
viewed knowing as little as possible. For me, it was a delightful surprise. It
reminded me of the Merchant/ Ivory films of the 1970’s and ‘80’s with a dash or
two of Masterpiece Theatre thrown in for good measure.
The film looks good. The actors are all great especially
Emory Cohen as Tony and Saoirse Ronan as Eilis. The superlative script by Nick
Hornby (About A Boy, High Fidelity) plus the set, great art direction and
costumes bring 1952 Brooklyn to authentic life with a bit of a glossy glow. This
film is one big valentine to its enthusiastic immigrants wholeheartedly adding
positive diversity to their perceived utopia – America.
I loved this movie
and plan on seeing it again once it goes out to wide release. It will be coming
to local theaters soon. See it!
