Brooklyn Movie Review (2015)

After a few missed attempts a girlfriend, my husband and I set off on a journey back in time to 1950s Ireland and Brooklyn, New York City, via the movie Brooklyn. We were not disappointed.

Brooklyn is a beautifully shot period drama that follows the path of a young Irish woman leaving family and friends behind in Ireland to seek a better life for herself. It shares details of life in Ireland, life aboard the boats that brought immigrants to the shores of North America and what it was like to be an Irish immigrant on our shores in that era. It is also a love story with lots of emotional highs and lows on both sides of the pond.

The film stars Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen and Domhnall Gleeson none of whom I was particularly aware of previously. A bit of research reveals that Ronan, the actress who plays the lead role of Eilis Lacey, was actually born in New York City to Irish parents who moved to Ireland when she was three. She has appeared previously in a number of projects including Atonement in 2007 for which she won the youngest-ever Academy Award nomination.

Ronan apparently has an uncanny nack for accents though of course in this movie she speaks in her own very lovely tongue. Her amazing blue eyes were also used to great effect in this film. I am sure we will be seeing much more of this young lady. Meanwhile, take a peek at Brooklyn and Ronan via the official movie trailer:



Brooklyn was adapted into a screenplay by Nick Hornby (who wrote About a Boy and so much more) from the book by Colm Toibin. I have not read that book yet and ahve put it on my must read list.


Brooklyn is rated PG-13 for sexuality and strong language with parents strongly cautioned. In terms of what to watch out for or be aware of, there is really not much for the adult viewer. It has sexual references and one sexual scene though I did not find it to be a very uncomfortable scene. It has drinking and smoking and one death though not a violent one.

RECOMMENDED? Yes, I would recommend this movie to anyone who loves beautiful cinemotography as it was very beautifully shot, to anyone who loves a period drama and history of times gone by and to anyone who loves a love story.  If you need any further recommendation to watch this movie you might consider that Brooklyn was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Actress in a Leading Role, and best Writing (Adapted Screenplay.)

You can buy or rent Brooklyn right now from Amazon by clicking right here. I think the book and the movie would make a fabulous gift idea for any woman who enjoys a beautifully made film and a love story.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Buy Brooklyn on Amazon.


J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Chair Auction

J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Chair AuctionJ.K. Rowling's chair, the one she used when she wrote two of the Harry Potter books, is going up for auction at Heritage Auctions in New York City on April 6, 2016.

I agree with the Heritage Auction's representative when he says that this chair deserves to be enshrined somewhere. Any fan of the Harry Potter books would love to own this chair because of the connection to the author.

The chair comes with a letter of authenticity from J.K. Rowling attesting to the fact that she used this chair to write the first drafts of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Chair Auction

If you are interested, you can bid online, via the post or on the telephone.  Learn more at Heritage auctions here. However, you might need really deep pockets or a bit of wizard magic as The Telegraph says that this chair is expected to fetch $45,000.  Not an easy price for most of us mere mortals.

Here's a short look at the chair via Youtube:




If that price is out of your reach and you are at all artistic, why not recreate this chair for yourself? 1930s era oak dining chairs like this one are readily and affordably available and the work requires only a piece of burlap, some paint and imagination. Just make sure that you choose a sturdy chair that does not require any structural repairs and beware that although Rowling wrote the books in this chair, it is not a comfortable one. I found a few similar chairs on eBay that would work.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

See Heritage Auction's video of the chair on Youtube.




Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales


NEARLY WORDLESS WEDNESDAY 

As a nearly wordless Wednesday post, I bring you this recent release, Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales. It perfectly combines the loves of many an adult and child. That is, Lego and Star Wars. The story is of a celebration in Endor (the Ewok village.) R2-D2 and C-3PO share with their human and non-human friends the adventures which led to The Phantom Menace. While they are sharing their story, there is a kidnapping and a whole new Star Wars story emerges. Amazon says, “It's hilarious and playful, packed with all your favorite interlocking characters bringing intergalactic thrills for the whole family!”  

Watch the trailer for the mini-series here. If you are a fan, it will make you smile.



Looks pretty awesome, don't you think? You can order your copy from Amazon by clicking right here.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:


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