Brooklyn (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2381111/



Starring:
Saoirse Ronan - Eilis Lacey
Emory Cohen - Tony Fiorello
Jim Broadbent - Father Flood
Fiona Glascott - Rose Glacey
Jane Brennan - Mrs. Lacey

I couldn't find the official soundtrack online, which actually surprised me. After finishing this movie, I can honestly say it’s powerful enough to make even a Martian or Max cry during lunch...

To give a bit of context on what we're looking at here... the story follows a young woman named Eilis (Saoirse Ronan) who decides to chase her dreams across the Atlantic to New York, specifically Brooklyn. As the name suggests, Brooklyn is where everything kicks off; it's where her life takes a turn for the better, both financially and romantically, especially when she meets Tony, leading to a quick romance. But after her older sister passes away, Eilis is forced to head back home to help her mother for a couple of months. That's where things get complicated... I won't spoil anything else, though. You'll just have to see how it unfolds.

I personally loved this film. Honestly, I'm struggling to find a single significant flaw.
There's no unnecessary filler or cheap sentimentality. The pacing is fluid, the dialogue isn't exhausting, and there aren't any awkward scenes forced into the narrative where they don't belong. Everything feels perfectly placed.
It offers an incredibly realistic portrayal of a woman standing at a crossroads: does she return to the man she loves, or does she accept the life her community expects for her—marrying someone she doesn't truly love just to ensure a comfortable, stable existence?
This is where Ronan really shines. She does a masterful job blending the persona of the girl who blossomed in Brooklyn with the "old" Eilis, who is trying to reintegrate into a lifestyle where she attempts to reclaim that polished, old-school, almost aristocratic demeanor.
🙂
Highly recommended!

And you couldn't even bother to include Domhnall Gleeson in the cast list? He was the whole reason I sat down to watch this...

It’s a solid film—straightforward, steady, and quite easy on the eyes if you're looking for something light and pleasant...

Watching this today 🍿

Lawrence Edwards58 said:Couldn't you just put Domhnall Gleeson in the cast list? He was the whole reason I watched this movie.

It’s a solid film—straightforward, steady, and just a really easy, pleasant watch.

Hmm, he actually should have been on the 😁 list. Now that I think about it, I must have just blanked on him in the moment, even though I remember scrolling through his IMDb page earlier. Who knows...

An absolutely stellar film 👍

This marks Saoirse Ronan's first real, substantial female lead... she’s spent most of her career playing these little ingenues and wide-eyed girls. She actually handled this one quite well 👍

Beautiful movie—really classy and hits you right in the feels. It’s this perfect tug-of-war between nostalgia and reality. 🙂

Got that Vintage 50 vibe and an American accent. 😍

The plot is solid, and watching Eilis grow into a woman was great. Saoirse Ronan absolutely killed it. 👍

Honestly, I liked this better than Spotlight or Room.

I honestly can't wrap my head around why this movie even landed a Best Picture nomination. To me, it feels no different from those generic, sugary romances they broadcast on PBS on Sunday afternoons. 🤷 There were plenty of films from last year that had a much stronger claim to this nomination.
*Testament of Youth* was definitely one of them.

Don't use an Oscar nomination as a reason to knock a movie 🙂...that's the whole issue with the Academy—they nominate just about anyone at this point. Honestly, I wouldn't even call this one a romance because love feels like a secondary element here. To me, the core of the story is a raw, realistic look at someone caught in that agonizing tug-of-war over how to live their life. It’s the kind of crossroads so many people face in their 40s, 50s, or 60s when they realize they're searching for happiness just as the clock is running out.

Exactly. Brooklyn is primarily a coming-of-age story where romance serves as just one small ingredient. The production design and costuming are top-tier, lending a certain warmth to the whole experience, and the lead actress is absolutely stellar 👍 It’s a mistake to view Brooklyn through the narrow lens of a romance, because that isn't what this movie is trying to be.

Raymond Anderson4 said:Don't use an Oscar nomination as an excuse to drag the movie down🙂...that's the issue with the Oscars; they nominate just about anyone. Besides, I wouldn't call this one a personal favorite because it covers such a wide range of themes. To me, the romance is just a side note. The core of the story is a realistic portrayal of someone torn between two paths, struggling with how to live their life—something many people in their 40s, 50s, or 60s have certainly dealt with while searching for happiness late in the game.

But even that aspect of the story feels superficial, uninspiring, and frankly, boring. In fact, the only part of the film where things actually pick up pace is the love triangle itself, though even that falls short. It’s never quite clear how a connection as intense as the one between Brooklyn and the frog man could be reduced to a mere fling after dating that guy from Ireland for just ten days. Simply put, the film is weak. There are much more successful and convincing movies out there about migration and surviving in a new environment. You might have actually answered your own question regarding why this film is at the Oscars right now. 👍

My god, what on earth is going on with that image in the opening post? 😂
Is it just me, or am I looking at two naked porn stars? 🤣

Anyway
The movie itself is gorgeous, and those costumes are absolutely 😍
Her husband is just so 🙂 (who is that actor anyway? 😁 )
The ending really rubbed me the wrong way... I honestly felt like she only went back because she was just getting old
And I really wish they had shown a few more scenes of her and her husband at the end

This is an excellent film, featuring a deeply developed lead character that Saoirse Ronan portrays with absolute brilliance.
While she was actually born right in New York as the child of Irish immigrants, her family moved back to Ireland when she was just three years old.
The plot of this movie takes a slightly different path, but given her heritage and her parents' lived experience within the complex Ireland-USA dynamic, I suspect her casting in this leading role was anything but accidental.

I highly recommend that everyone gives this one a watch.👍

P.S.
I found the wicked Miss Kelly to be particularly "enjoyable" in this film.

Eric Hayes61 said:Exactly. Brooklyn is primarily a coming-of-age story where romance is merely one component. The production design and costuming are superb and lend such warmth to the film, while the lead actress is exceptional. 👍It is reductive to view Brooklyn solely through the lens of a romance, as that isn't its true purpose.

Indeed, my eyes were truly feasting on all those costumes and settings.


The film is genuinely compelling. It features a simple plot that manages to remain utterly engaging. I concur that Brooklyn functions more as a life story than a mere romance. We watch an immigrant, Saoirse, torn between two worlds—one bound by love and freedom, and the other tethered by a complex blend of affection, duty, and nostalgia...
It is a highly watchable piece; the pacing is seamless, the screenplay is measured, and as previously noted, the costume design and set decoration are top-tier...

Spoiler:

No, I've forgotten what this town is like
🙂

😍 Honestly, I loved this movie. It was just so 😍. I’m still a complete wreck, to be honest. I only sat down to watch it because—well, it’s an Oscar contender—so I wasn't expecting much, but man, did it deliver.
It’s a slice-of-life story—really grounded, really real. But for me, it was the romance that truly hooked me. I got so swept up in it, cared so much about the characters, that I actually rewound the final scene three times just to experience it again.
It’s a beautiful film, truly 🕺.

Saoirse is wonderful; her performance was absolutely stellar.

I caught this after the Oscar nominations dropped, and honestly, there isn't much more to dig into here; it’s a perfectly decent enough watch, but it certainly doesn't break any new ground.
The lead actress delivers a strong performance, though her co-star is pretty much forgettable.

It’s a good thing all the other nominees are absolutely killing it this year.

Rachel Young3 said:Anyway
The movie is gorgeous and the costumes are 😍
Her husband is totally 🙂 (who is that actor? 😁 )

Emory Cohen.

Talijančić really got on my nerves. He felt kind of childish, especially with that creepy accent. They’ve known each other for a couple of days and he’s already like, "I love you, marry me" 🤦

I was rooting for irac.

It’s a good film; Saoirse did an amazing job.

The scenes at the boarding house are great—all that biting sarcasm and condescension.

Overall, it's a pleasant, well-told story about life's crossroads, desires, and regrets.
Still, since we're talking Oscar season, I think "Spotlight" and "room" are slightly better.

Sandra Harris2 said:Honestly, Talijančić really rubbed me the wrong way. He felt kind of childish, especially with that cringey accent. They’ve barely known each other for a few days, and he's already pulling the "I love you, marry me" card 🤦

Were you even paying attention to the plot? It's pretty obvious in the movie that months, if not an entire year, have passed since they first met before he drops the whole "marry me" line.

And the film is absolutely gorgeous 🙏 (that was my own opinion, not directed at you)

Hannah Watson85 said:😍 I can't even begin to explain how much I loved this movie. Honestly, it was just 😍. I’m still an absolute wreck. I only sat down to watch it because, well, it's the Oscars, and I wasn't expecting anything special—but man, was I wrong.
It felt so raw and real, like a genuine slice of life. But honestly? It was the romance that really got me. I got so swept up in it that I actually rewound the final scene three different times just to soak it all in again.
Such a beautiful film 🕺.

Saoirse was incredible; her performance was seriously top-tier.

I have to quote this, 🙂