It is a widely known fact that chick flicks tend to be pretty terrible. Especially when they are based on other material in some way. But thankfully John Crowley's new film "Brooklyn" is the proud exception. This film is delightful in every way possible. The romance is held with care, the characters, while not new, are proud and strong, and it sheds light on the conditions of immigration in the 1950s.
The film stars Saoirse Ronan, a very talented young actress, as an Irish immigrant who traveled to Brooklyn New York, to start a new life.
At first, she is not happy. Who the hell would be? She left her family behind, she has next to no friends and she is stuck with a terribly job that she clearly hates like nothing else in the world.
But her life changes for the better after she meets a young Italian man played by Emory Cohen. She suddenly has someone to love and care about again and her happiness returns.
Due to the very important ex machina known as plot, things back in Ireland are not going very well so she has to make a very important choice that will change her life forever.
As you might have guessed, the plot is not very original or (dare I say) good, but the acting, and execution of said plot makes it all worth while. At least for the most part. One more than one occasion, I was taken out of the movie due to its cliche story telling and character motivations.
The movie is hellishly predictable at times. For the most part when you think something is going to happen, it does. But that doesn't change the fact that the predictable romance is still delightful and engaging.
Is it perfect? No. But is it still good? Yes. Very much so in fact. There is a lot that this film has going for it.
However it still had the potential to be so much more then it was. It could have touched on the hatred between Irish immigrants and Italian immigrants. It could have touched on "native" New Yorker's hatred for immigrants in general. But it never does. Its irritating because the first half of the second act doesn't have much conflict at all. Its just pure delight. Which is fun but to a point.
Conflict makes stories work and without it they're boring. And Brooklyn almost was, but wasn't. Why? I'm actually unsure. Maybe it was the acting, maybe it was the directing, and maybe it was both.
"Brooklyn" is not a masterpiece by any means. But then again, few movies are. Brooklyn is enjoyable, well acted and directed but has more then a few issues with its story and failed to live up to its potential.
3.7 out of 5 stars
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