A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

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Audience Member Dont listen to anyone named Margret. This film is fantastically fleshed out by real people~ actors perfectly cast~ who bring real emotion to this story with added depth & clarity that is missing from the bland, sophomoric novel. It is the RARE exception of a film being greater than its source material and no matter how many times i view it, no matter what season, it always brings me to tears in specific powerful scenes that transcend art and tap into the roots of all humanity. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/15/24 Full Review Margaret Seriously inferior to its source material. Betty Smith's novel depicts a world of unrelenting harshness, pain and danger, where even the smallest acts of kindness or bits of beauty or moments of comfort are cherished. None of the book's pain and hunger and cruelty are evident here: the sadistic teachers, judgmental gossips and savage bullies. Here the indifferent librarian is kind, the neighboorhood shopkeepers like children, and Francie's teacher encourages her to write about the ugly truth of things rather than shaming her for it. Most disappointingly, a book that is candidly and beautifully about the experiences of females -- which deals frankly with female desire and the raw pain of childbirth -- now barely passes the Bechdel test. Johnny Nolan becomes the center of the film and remains its center after his absence, until another male can be found to take his place. He's also played by a 44 year old man, 15 years older than his wife, when Johnny's main draw was meant to have been his youth and golden beauty. This movie begs to be remade in a time where women can tell their own stories, where sex, pregnancy and childbirth are not taboo, and cruelty and pain aren't sanitized away. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 10/06/23 Full Review Ernie K A deeply affecting drama; sweet yet sad, full of optimistic strains amidst consistently pessimistic circumstances, and rife with superior performances. A young girl's dreams, a family's stark realities, and the cord of emotional connection between father and daughter. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/19/23 Full Review red t A Classic Drama. The acting is very well done throughout and gets exceptional in parts in the 2nd Act. James Dunn steals the show and a very strong performance by everyone else in particular Peggy Ann Carter. The Cinematography is the highlight of this film and is exceptional throughout. The shots are always well framed, beautifully detailed, intimate settings and rich with character and things always going on in the background making things pop. The editing and pacing are very well crafted and seamless with the only complaint being the first half while the scenes are very well done take a bit to actually form a story with it. But the payoff is very deserving still. The Music also is decent in this but I would have liked to have seen a bit more use as it would have done a lot to help with the pacing in the first half especially. Overall this is a Classic Drama and anyone that is a fan of the book or fans of Dramas, Elia Kazan, or any of the actors in this should give this a watch. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review andy h I seriously don't know why this classic novel adaptation isn't talked about more, nor do I understand the rejection of this lovely leading girl. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Such a charming film. I watched this with someone who had just finished reading the book. I knew nothing about the film but it very quickly charmed me. Highly recommended and the cast are great! Pure classic movie that will warm your heart. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

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