Brooklyn (2015) - 9/10
Let's just get to it.
1. Acting
I tried coming up with many different ways to describe Saoirse Ronan in this film, but threw them all out for sounding so cliche. I'm just going to go with this: she is soooooo fucking good in this movie. Every tear, every smile, every glance, every pause- everything about her performance is marvelous. Great actors don't just convey emotion, they elicit it from the audience. And Ronan tore me apart.
The supporting cast are no slouches either. Emory Cohen and Domhnall Gleeson are both very charming in their own distinct ways as Eilis' love interests. Fiona Glascott somehow made reading on screen a gut wrenching experience. Jane Brennan, Brid Brennan, and Julie Walters all made their characters feel so familiar and real. And there are so many other great little performances in this cast.
2. Cinematography
The shots in this film are gorgeous and simple. They feel classic and lean into its period piece nature. The lighting is subdued and simple. And the close ups are a highlight, especially when utilizing the subtle skills of such great performers to your advantage.
3. Production/Costume Design
Period pieces sometimes feel like they are trapped within the bounds of what audiences stereotypically know about a particular time period. Brooklyn seems to nail the 1950's aesthetic without it feeling too boring. In fact, with regards to Eilis, the costume team seemed to enjoy matching her journey through the story by imbuing her wardrobe with more and more glamour and color.
The sets and locales also feel authentic to the period and story and include some wonderful shots of both the stand-in for Brooklyn and the real Irish countryside.
4. Writing
One the critiques I've seen against Brooklyn is how there wasn't really a lot to the story and Eilis' didn't really face any obstacles. On my initial watch in 2015 I may have agreed slightly. But now, I feel like those people must have accidentally wandered straight out of the room while the film was playing and forgot what they were doing and went to bed.
If your entire read of the story is girl leaves home, meets boy, goes home meets other boy, and then goes back to first boy... then yeah, it is a simple story. But for shits, let's just look at Cambell's story circle and see if the former critique holds up.
We meet Eilis as she is stuck in an Irish town with no prospects for her future and has decided she must move to America (call to adventure). As she is getting ready to leave, she struggles with what that will mean for her mother, and moreso her sister (refusal of the call). Her sister reaffirms her decision to leave and makes sure that she goes (supernatural aid). So she boards the boat bound for America and passes through Ellis Island (crossing the first threshold). Her first few weeks in America are hard and she struggles to adapt, becoming very homesick (belly of the whale). But then she meets Tony and they begin to date and fall in love (the road of trials/meeting with the goddess). Tragedy strikes when Eilis' sister dies unexpectantly. She then decides to return home to comfort her mother (woman as the temptress/atonement with the father). During her time there, she is reminded of the parts of home she loves and meets a second love interest. However, she also slowly begins to realize that while "home is home", it can also be suffocating and full of pressures and judgments-- that you can lose who you are in favor of what others want or expect you to be (apotheosis, ultimate boon, refusal to the return, magic flight). As she starts to see home in a different way, she reaffirms her love for Tony and the new life she built in America. She confronts her mother, rejects Jim, and heads to her new home back with Tony (Rescue from without, crossing the return threshold, master of two worlds, freedom to live).
And listen, I get it. Character driven dramas are not everyone's cup of tea - including my own a lot of the time. But there is a true hero's journey crammed into this simple story. And if you are open to putting yourself in the shoes of a young woman who is forced by circumstances outside her control to leave her entire life behind and in doing so is able to find herself, her love and a new home- then this movie will rip you apart but leave you full with hope and joy.
5. Sound Design
The sound effects, though minimal, seem to be on point. The OST is quiet and subdued instrumentals and helps highlight the many emotional moments of the film.
6. Editing
The film clocks in at 112 minutes which feels appropriate. It doesn't rush itself through its moments but also manages to keep things moving. The third act does feel slightly disjointed. A lot of time is spent back in Ireland which is important for Eilis' journey, but it makes her return to America and Tony feel quite abrupt when the credits start to roll.
7. Visual Effects
I imagine the mostly invisible work here is in the backgrounds and settings.
8. Originality or Strength of Adaptation
It is anecdotal, but there seems to be a consensus that this is one of the rare instances where the movie exceeds the book. I'm sure we lose some details in the adaptation, but others have remarked that the movie offers a lighter and more humorous tone and Eilis' decision to go back to America, which is an important turning point for her character, is more of a forced decision in the novel.
Nothing really to note here.
10. Direction
John Crowley and team crafted a wonderfully balanced and emotional immigrant and love story. I think Crowley's extensive background in theatre was a big strength for delving into a narrative that almost entirely revolves around characters.
Legacy/Final Thoughts
Brooklyn was greatly lauded following its premiere at Sundance. However, it is a tough film for more casual audiences. It may still be too early to tell exactly what its legacy will be, but will likely remain in conversations as a high tier romance drama for audiences willing to give it a shot.
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