Blue door

Brooklyn

Crit

So Saoirse Ronan is like the anti-Wood Harris (see my Creed blurb): I feel as if I've seen every film she's made. That not even remotely true, this being only the fourth. Maybe it's that she left such an indelible mark on Atonement, Hanna, and The Grand Budapest Hotel (a doubly indelible mark!) that she's more present in memory than on the screen.

With a lesser 21-year-old actor in damn near every scene, this might still be a charming slice of transatlantic Eisenhower era life; Ronan makes it more compelling than it has any right to be. Unfortunately, she can't do anything to keep it from being irksomely rushed at the end. I was reminded in the end credits that the screenplay is by Nick Hornby, who writes 80% excellent novels but can't seal the deal.

Trailers

• Demolition--This may be Jake Gyllenhaal's bid for the Damaged Guy Oscar®.
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2--I'll admit it: I enjoyed the first one. But was this necessary?
• Carol--Oh, yes.
• Anomalisa--Charlie Kaufman, stop action, I'm in.