Movie Review: Brookyln
By Jonathan Fuchs, Copy Editor
[Fox Searchlight; 2015]
Rating: 3.5/5
Brooklyn is a standout movie in an extremely generic and recycled cinematic category: the historical romantic drama. In a genre filled to the brim with eye gouging-inducing films like Titanic and The English Patient, Brooklyn stands tall and shows off its interesting characters, brilliant costumes and bright colors. Although it can get a little formulaic near the second half, Brooklyn is still worth a watch.
The film takes place in the 1950s and stars Eilis (Saoirse Ronan), an Irish immigrant who starts a new life in America and falls in love with an Italian man named Tony (Emory Cohen). Eilis eventually has to decide to go back to the life she once had or live a new one with Tony in New York.
The good elements of this movie present themselves in the acting, characters, and look of the film. All of the actors do a great job of bringing their characters to life, especially since the protagonists of the film are all very likable and relatable. The writing and delivery also seem very realistic and not too corny. A huge element, too, is the costumes and settings. These really bring a nostalgic feel to the film, even for those who never lived around that time.
Unfortunately, like many romantic dramas, Brooklyn becomes a little too cliché towards its second half. It eventually becomes easy to predict what will happen to each character in the end and the film starts to lose its quick pace and drag on. However, the film makes up for it in its quirky style and good writing, which never feels too forced or cheesy.
Although it can get a bit cliché, Brooklyn is still a very good film that deserves the critical praise and award nominations it has been getting. It has a lot of heart and passion, and it’s a film people will love.
