Since it has premiered at TIFF, we would have a lot of reviews/reactons. I think it would be best to start a thread with
-
JaneThree — 10 years ago(March 28, 2016 07:52 AM)
One of my favorite parts of Brooklyn is that extended close-up at the Irish dance (the one in Ireland, not the one in Brooklyn). It's the sort of extended close-up that can register as a stunt - sort of look what a great actor I am. I won't mention a couple of actors/actresses who come off that way. Saoirse lives in that close-up in a completely natural way. She's the real deal and then some.
-
Steve7216 — 9 years ago(July 28, 2016 04:22 PM)
Don't want to lose this thread.
Brooklyn (From: Dear Cast and Crew)
By Tim McEown
Mailed on February 04, 2016
Stamp image Air
Mail
Dear Nick Hornby
Writer
Dear Nick,
What I find compelling about the films youre involved with is their lucid portrayal of a particular species of love. In High Fidelity, About A Boy, Wild, and now Brooklyn, love is depicted as an effort to pay attention, and to understand without judgment. In the worlds you create, love is about seeing the person in front of you, and accepting that theyre probably as flawed a creature as you.
This is something John Cusaks Rob Gordon is slow to learn in High Fidelity, and Hugh Grants Will Freeman is perhaps even slower to comprehend in About A Boy. It is a truth that evades Reese Witherspoons Cherylespecially when it comes to herselffor almost the entirety of Wild. But in Brooklyn, this truth seems to be integral to Saoirse (sounds like inertia) Ronans Eilis from birth. Consequently, the film is far more concerned with the impediments that life throws in front of all of usin our search for love and belongingthan any kind of interior journey.
Set in the early 1950s, Brooklyn is very much Eiliss story. We follow her from her native Ireland, where she is completely unfulfilled, to Brooklyn, New Yorkand what is essentially a halfway house for young, unmarried women. There she is shepherded by an Irish priestplayed benevolently by Jim Broadbent in a role he could have sleepwalked through, but didntuntil she finds employment in a Macys-like department store.
The rest of the film concerns itself with Eilis and her new lifethe ups and downs, ins and outs of a young women discovering how the world operates. In many ways, this film is boilerplate in its plot construction, but it is never hackneyed. This is due to the restrained tone (there is never a scene that feels heightened or contrived), uniformly strong performances and the superb attention to detail in the costume and set design.
However, what really makes Brooklyn special is Ronan and her tremendous presence. She is a remarkable actress and entirely too self possessed for someone so young. So many moments in this film are carried by a simple gesture or a subtle tell in Ronans demeanor. Couple this rare ability with her talent for infusing dialogue with a quiet veracity, and Ronans performance becomes something special to watch.
While Eiliss burgeoning love life is what drives the plot, it is the small, idiosyncratic details that you include that help differentiate this film from a thousand others. The most entertaining of which is Mrs. Keoghthe tyrannical matriarch of the boarding houseportrayed in a marvelously cranky turn by Julie Waters. She is a both a character and the same time a fully realized human being a feat of writing that is vanishingly rare in any medium. As a result of this kind of nuanced work, moments that could have been heavy handed or overt are given a gentle twist that feels authentic and emotionally honest in a way that you dont often see, especially in major studio releases. Add to that the absolute fidelity of the visuals to a particular time and placethis is Brooklyn in the early fiftiesand you have a film that is far more than the sum of its trailers.
Also, the sharp casting choice of her two suitorsEmory Cohen as Tony and Domhnall Gleeson as Jimis just another feature in a long list that helps elevate Brooklyn far above the Madding Crowd.
It is perhaps surprising to some that Brooklyn is nominated for an Oscar in the Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actress categories. In many ways this is a small, intimate film without much in the way of overt fireworks. But the craft at work, the script you produced, and the memorable character that Ronan creates in Eilis, make this a special film.
All things considered, Brooklyn is eminently worthy of the kind of recognition it is receiving and a fine addition to an already impressive body of work. Good luck on Oscar night, Nick.
Sincerely,
Tim
http://tinyurl.com/hqc873a -
Steve7216 — 9 years ago(September 23, 2016 02:43 PM)
New tweets from today.
RafaRena ire @RafaNadal_Ire 2h2 hours ago
Brooklyn is one of the most powerful films ever made, but is so subtle at the same time. I could re watch Saoirse Ronan in this film forever
Bear Swift @Writer_Bear 3h3 hours ago
Finally got round to watching #Brooklyn. #saoirseronan is a freaking power house. -
Steve7216 — 9 years ago(January 05, 2017 09:37 AM)
Couple of nice tweets.
Dave Algonquin @the_real_matt_m 26 Dec 2016
Folks, we finished Brooklyn over an hour ago and I'm still buzzing. That was pure, unadulterated movie magic. Saoirse Ronan is a star.
Dave Algonquin @the_real_matt_m 26 Dec 2016
I am finally watching Brooklyn and this movie is a goddamn heartwarming delight. Saoirse Ronan is so pitch perfect in this. -
Steve7216 — 9 years ago(January 06, 2017 03:13 PM)
Good questions PMG. Happy New Year to you as well.
I'm not certain, but I happened to think when I read your post that my brother claimed the dollars in the film were new ones and not vintage 1950's. Who notices stuff like that?
I'm more caught up in the emotional current when I watch the film.
In any event, the reactions and reviews have been so amazing I'm determined not to lose the thread. In it, you'll find reviews from bloggers who aren't on RT but say incredible things about her. I'm also so looking forward to what's ahead.