Movie Review: Hanna

[caitri]

I can't say enough good things about this movie: you hear a lot about "modern fairy tales" but this is IT, in all its old school visceral glory. This was set up during all the ads early on, the "One upon a time in the woods a girl lived with her father" things. But in the film itself--! Hanna reading an old book of German fairy tales, then later meeting "Mr Grimm"... And so much else! "No music and no magic--so sad!"

Cate Blanchett is scary as hell, and Eric Bana is just epic. Saorsie Ronan--I don't have the words for it. If anything her performance reminds me of Forest Whitaker in Last King of Scotland--able to go from vulnerable and heart-rending to terrifying on a dime.

This puppy is going straight on the "Best of 2011 List." The end.

Comments

[reena_jenkins]

I was already trying to find a theater near me that was showing this movie, and your review has made the search seem all the more imperative. Also, yay for scary Cate Blanchett! Also also, one of the tv trailers gave me the impression of the film having a "violent Heidi" vibe - but I like your "modern fairy tales" idea better.

[caitri.livejournal.com]

Yeah, being uber-geek girl I had ridiculous amounts of fun picking out all the little references. Scott and I were talking about it afterwards and he was like, "So what was with that scene where she's brushing her teeth?" and I said, "My, grandmother, what BIG teeth you have!" and he was all "OHHHHHHH." The movie is FULL of stuff like that.

Like, seriously, if you want to get uber-geeky, go check out a copy of The Uses of Enchantment and then just watch this, and geek forever!!!!!!!!!

[rubynye.livejournal.com]

I was already eager to see "Cate Blanchett Stars in 'Tykebomb: The Movie'" but this looks like so much more than I dreamed!

[dramapunk.livejournal.com]

So I went to wonder-con and was at the panel for this, haven't seen it yet, but the director said "I wanted a female hero who was removed from pop culture and didn't look like a whore."

[caitri.livejournal.com]

....I may have a crush on this man.

[dramapunk.livejournal.com]

I know right. He went off on this whole thing about how pigtails and a cheerleader outfit shouldn't be what makes a girl a hero.

[caitri.livejournal.com]

Erm....not sure that I follow that, unless it's a slight Buffy dig, in which case, dude, no.

[dramapunk.livejournal.com]

it was a dig at sucker punch where they are in basically naughty girl cloths thigh high boots and have guns and swords.

[caitri.livejournal.com]

Ah, good for him. That movie looked all kinds of headache-inducing offensive.

[tn-tiger.livejournal.com]

Forgot to mention: saw this last week and loved it! The fairytale details were great. And dude...that deer at the end! She's totally "the young stag"!

I thought that the removal from popular culture made for a fascinating angle. I mean, what would a person raised without music be like? (What kind of man doesn't at least sing to a little girl, is a better question.) At the same time, I liked that the British family's daugher, while not a hero, was like a foil to Hanna, and also sympathetic.

[tommy50702.livejournal.com]

Trailers misrepresented this as an all out action movie. I still thought it was very good, though.