Saoirse Ronan delights as a young Irish immigrant in 1950's New York, caught between relationships in each place. With a script of equal parts humor and pathos adapted by Nick Hornby, it's the year's best date movie, and among the best at large.

Rounding out Ronan's love triangle are rising stars Emory Cohen as the Italian Brooklynite she falls for, and Domhnall Gleeson as an Irishman who courts her during a trip back. The acting is strong all around, and also includes a wry turn from Julie Walters as a boarding house owner/de facto Mom to her tenants from abroad. John Crowley's direction is confident, with colorful frames and well-designed compositions. The period production value is high, and catchy music of the day plays diegetically throughout the film.

There are some face-palm moments when our heroine questions the life she's promised to stateside, but ultimately these enhance the central drama, making Ronan's character relatable in her doubt. With a plausible romantic story and welcome dearth of sentimentality, Brooklyn succeeds as a classic romance.

Final Grade: A | 96/100 | ★★★★