Brooklyn

Brooklyn has built a devoted following in Australia on Foxtel Now and Beamafilm, and in the US on Wonder Project Amazon Channel among viewers who want their romance taken seriously. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. With 3,280 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. The chemistry Saoirse Ronan brings to it is the real engine here. Put it on tonight on Foxtel Now and see for yourself.

Brooklyn arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Brooklyn earns its romantic beats rather than assuming them — a rarer quality than it sounds. In 1950s Ireland and New York, young Eilis Lacey has to choose between two men and two countries. Saoirse Ronan and Domhnall Gleeson lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2015. What makes Brooklyn work is that the leads feel like people first, a couple second. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Romance fans and drama viewers alike will find something to love in Brooklyn. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Saoirse Ronan's performance makes the emotional stakes feel real, not manufactured. Worth watching alone or with someone who shares your taste.