Hanna

I had no idea what to expect when I sat down to watch Hanna last night. The movie truly began in the white bleakness of the wilderness and only lead to the bleakness of civilization. The film itself is well done. It has many of the typical “spy” or “action” thriller clichés, but the movie makes use of solid characters to pull off a very sleek film. The film is clearly framed from the beginning to the end with a classy, yet somewhat predictable, opening sequence that is echoed at the end of the movie. However, the movie is just plain fun to watch, and the lovely Saoirse Ronan is just outstanding as Hanna. She is able to pull off the innocent yet honest portrayal of this dangerous character. There are moments of humor and plenty of action. There are a few holes and questions I have but far less than the typical action movie. The story is engaging and well written. There are a few other things that Hanna’s father should have taught her before unleashing her on the world, but these are forgivable as they build the innocent side of the character up. At the very least, Saoirse Ronan’s excellent acting will have me clamoring to see anything else she appears in. I have been impressed by this young lady’s talent since The Lovely Bones and am excited to watch her career unfold. She certainly chooses wonderfully suited roles. Hanna is a fun action movie but has many images of violence and death. I would avoid letting the kids see it.

Let the Right One In

Every now and then a horror movie comes along with such a sharp intellect that it leaves me a fan for life. Let the Right One In is an example of such a film. It has been some time ago that I was able to watch this movie, and it has taken me this long to truly figure out what I want to say about it. I still see the imagery in my mind and will never view falling snow the same way again. Every time I see it in the future, I will be transported to the opening scenes of this film. It is such a strange thing to say that violence has the quality of beauty and poetry. Most of the time violence is clumsy and stupid. Yet, somehow, Let the Right One In manages to harness violence and make it a work of art. The entire film is a comment on bullying and oppression. It is innocence that is not innocent. It is a paradox that I have a hard time resolving and the conundrum it creates in me disturbs me greatly. I simply did not expect what I saw when I sat down to watch the movie in the middle of the night this summer. I expected to see a typical vampire movie and all the expected formulas play out of the screen. Let the Right One In literally breaks the mold of the traditional vampire story. I think the fact that the writer of the novel was allowed to write the script made the film ring true. The film is creepy, scary, nurturing, and warm all at once. The vampire in question is despicable and sympathetic. She is the hero and the villain. Honestly, she is one of the most complex characters I have seen in a long time. She is certainly the most complex vampire to ever grace the silver screen. I won’t spoil anything for those who have not seen the film. Suffice it to say that the ending of the movie is worth the entire experience. It horrifies and makes you want to celebrate simultaneously. It is the most fantastic use of “mind” horror I have seen since the opening of Jaws. It certainly has gore, but most of the horror is thought driven. It is poetic and graceful. It gives me shudders of dread and delight at the same time. I plan on watching the remake Let Me In soon but fully expect it to not measure up to the original. Not for kids, gore and terrifying imagery.