Based on Colm Tóibín's novel of the same name, 'Brooklyn' is A Beautiful, Beautiful Film! A heartwarming tale about Love, Loss & Relationships. And a Knock-Out Performance by Saoirse Ronan is always welcome.

'Brooklyn' Synopsis: An Irish immigrant lands in 1950s Brooklyn, where she quickly falls into a new romance. When her past catches up with her, however, she must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within.

'Brooklyn' is a simple film, told magnificently. Its superior film in all respects. Nick Hornby's Adapted Screenplay captures the Protagonist's coming-of-age tale, with dignity & pathos. I was arrested by the flow of the narrative. John Crowley's Direction is excellent. Cinematography & Editing are sharp, while the Art & Costume Design are fabulous. Michael Brook's Score works.

Performance-Wise: Saoirse Ronan is in great form. The talented actress delivers a Knock-Out Performance as the naive & lovable protagonist. This is the kind of performance awards were invented for. Giving her terrific support are Emory Cohen & Domhnall Gleeson, who enact the men in her lives, proficiently. The Ever-Compelling Jim Broadbent shines in a brief role.

On the whole, 'Brooklyn' is a true winner. Don't miss it!

"Brooklyn" was a frustrating movie to watch. So much of it was perfect...the amazing costuming that really evoked the early 1950s, great direction, the amazingly perfect music and some of the best acting I've seen in years. Yet despite having all this, the film STILL frustrated me because of a problem with the plot. This problem is an easy one to work out...yet inexplicably it became monstrously huge.

Eilis (Saoirse Ronan) is a young Irish lady who has just learned she's being sponsored to go to America. While she's thrilled with a chance at a new life, it's all so overwhelming and strange and you follow Eilis on her journey.

The first half of the film is incredibly sweet and nice. I knew since it was a movie things could not stay this way but I sure was hoping it would. Sadly, Eilis' sister has died and she must go back home...and leave the lovely Italian-American man she's come to love and just married. Inexplicably, when she arrives back in Ireland, she doesn't tell anyone she is married and even leads a wonderful man on by making him think he had a chance with her. And, through all this I felt like screaming "WHY wouldn't you just tell everyone you are married and be done with it??? That's what any sane person would do!!"....and that is why no matter how much I loved the film it misses out on being a classic.

Love drama and with a great cast that includes Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent and promising former child actress Saoirse Ronan, talented Nick Horby adapting the lovely gentle read that is the book, 'Brooklyn' seemed my kind of film.

My thoughts after seeing 'Brooklyn' was that it was a lovely film. Not quite top 10 of 2015 material but one of the easier to watch and like films of the year, providing that the gentle deliberate pacing does not bother you (it didn't me). 'Brooklyn' has a slight and simple story that doesn't break boundaries, cover new ground and lacks edge, but this does not matter when it is as sweet, charming and touching as it is.

Faults are few actually. The final third is a little forced with some of it feeling a bit too neat and a slightly passive indecisiveness, even for her conflicting emotions and difficulties with following her heart, in the lead character that wasn't there for the rest of the film. Despite a natural easy-going chemistry with Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen is a little too laid back in his role that he comes over as dull.

Ronan however is terrific, she was a promising child actress as said, here in 'Brooklyn' she comes of age and gives her character nuance and pathos without weakening the character. In support, the standout is the sheer comic delight that is Walters while Broadbent is suitably robust. Domhnall Gleeson is charming.

John Crowley keeps things beautifully controlled without slacking. 'Brooklyn' looks beautiful, the 1950s setting is austere yet strikingly evocative and the cinematography positively glows. Michael Brooks' score is subtle but very well suited to the period and the film's tone.

Scripting is intelligent, emotion-soaked and has the right amount of charm and sweetness without going sugary or frothy. Some may find that story-wise it's small in scale, being slight and conventional somewhat, but there is no denying that 'Brooklyn' has a big heart and that the love story is beguiling that shows the film making successful efforts at depth and truth.

It's as warm as sitting by the fireplace with a pair of slippers on your feet and drinking hot milk and am not the first to admit having tears of joy (there are some understated humorous moments without busting a gut, which was appropriate) and sadness (it's a tear-jerker but doesn't try too hard to be or manipulate people into getting emotional, the emotion is very much genuine). The characters are well written and for what they may lack in depth they more than make up for with heart and charm.

Overall, a lovely, beguiling, warm love story that may be small in its scale but when it comes to the heart it couldn't shine any bigger. 8/10 Bethany Cox