Suffragette, Crimson Peak and Brooklyn

I'm sorry to say I found Suffragette to be quite an awkward movie to watch. The subject matter, of course, is a story that had to be told in a big film, but the concentration on working class women from a London laundry (Carey Mulligan and Anne Marie Duff), whilst worthy, felt distinctly sad. Coupled with, again, other important social themes, it was left to Helena Bonham Carter as a middle class activist to provide some drive. I went with expectation of a great script from Abi Morgan but was let down. And the choice of Sarah Gavron as director was a mistake. But having said all that, this was still a highly memorable film. I was on tenterhooks right until the end when an early character is called Emily.

I was one of the few who didn't rate writer/director Guillermo del Torro's Pan's Labyrinth. But this time in Crimson Peak he was far more successful. The ghosts are not the most horrific menace in the crumbling Cumbrian mansion where Edith Cushing (her surname a little whimsy) finds her newly married life to Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddlestone) not all she expected. There she finds Thomas' creepy sister played by Jessica Chastain and, yes, ghosts. What is most impressive about this movie is the set, the costumes, the lighting, the sound, all will probably be Oscar nominated. The story is somewhat hammy, but Gothic horrors always are. A very enjoyable and colourful movie that has to be seen on a big screen.

I am a big fan of the novel Brooklyn by Colm Toibin, so to say that the movie does it more than justice says a lot. This is entirely down to Nick Hormby's adaptation and John Crowley's understated direction. The tone is a quiet and intelligent and the differences between early fifties Ireland and New York are even more vivid than that described in the book. Saoirse Ronan is a knockout as Eilis as she gradually gains the confidence in New York that she lacked at home. There are two great cameos from Julie Walters and Jim Broadbent but the two young men from either side of the Atlantic are not great. Maybe they were just outshone by the shining Ronan. An outstanding film.