Review for Hanna

Interest grew for Hannah after the news that director Joe Wright (director of Atonement) was set to film the script by Seth Lockhad and David Farr and that The Chemical Brothers were set to record a soundtrack for the first time in their career. After some slow burners the British film-maker has done in the past, he has finally steps up to direct something fast paced and fun.

In the snow covered wilderness of Finland lives ex-spy Erik (Eric Banna) and his young daughter Hanna (Saoirse Ronan). At the beginning of the movie we see the super kid Hanna, take down a wild dear bringing back memories of the recently popular young girls kicking ass crossed with a Luc Besson movie. This sets the tone as the story develops into a chase movie. The reason for their hidden location is made clear to Hanna upon Erik asking if she is “ready”? For reasons unknown to us at first, Hanna is being haunted by some government headed by Marissa (Cate Blanchett) who is looking to capture and dispose of her. As the race begins we see Hanna traverse different continents in a classic secret agent style which has been simplified for younger audiences.

Despite Hanna appearing to be another James Bond for kids it is more a cross between the Bourn trilogy and Besson’s Nakita. The film does over all feel like a simple, non-Parisian Besson film on the whole which is one of its likable qualities. Whilst the quick cuts do thrill on the most part, Cate Blanchett does another great performance as the OCD government boss who has more character then a lot of super spy badies we see now a days and even though Eric Banna disappears for some part of the movie his role is interesting enough to keep audiences entertained.

Also surprisingly for an action adventure, director Joe Wright does include a lot of poetic shots which work well. The director whose previous movies, Atonement, Pride & Prejudice as well as The Soloist  have all been at the very least visually impressive, and Hanna is no exception.

The movies biggest floor is one which could have been dramatically shortened and would have had a better effect over the film.  The part I am referring too happens to be that of the travelling British family who hang onto the action in the movie like a bad smell which won’t leave. Now at first it is easy to see that their obnoxious daughter Sophie (Jessica Barden) is suppose to be the contrast to Hannah as we see a normal girl compared to this outrageous killing machine that Hanna is. However in the end they just entertain the hordes of young audiences.

Over all Hanna is an enjoyable movie. Despite some setbacks with the family, the movie is both visually entertaining as well as adding a touch of Bourne to keep the action fresh. But don’t get me wrong, there is very little in it that is original but with the Chemical Brother’s fast beats the movie transcends more than most spy action thrillers.

Trailer

* * *

#19 Review For ‘Curious Case Of Benjamin Button’ (2009)

Director

David Fincher

Cast

Brad Pitt

Cate Blanchett

Julia Ormand

Screenplay

Eric Roth

Certification

12a

Running Time

165min

The first thing I’m going to say is that ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ is based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald and was not based on a true story. Looking back on director David Fincher’s filmography, he has done some rather fantastic films. He has directed such great films like ‘Fight Club’ (1999), ‘Zodiac’ (2007), ‘Se7en’ (1995), so it’s easy to see the connection between Pitt and Fincher and the great work they have done. And with another great film under his belt he’s is really doing well for himself even if he’s not really been noticed by the non-film fanatic audiences.

The story revolves around a man called Benjamin, who instead of getting older like the rest of nature, goes the opposite way and grows younger (on reflection of the story its was absolutely insane to write a story about a man growing younger). Anyways, he grows younger every day whilst watching the people around him grow old and die. The story takes the protagonist all around the world for nearly three hours so remember you have to sit through half an hour of adverts at most cinemas (I only say this becuase my bum was numb by the end of the film). The film obviously has its touching parts’ especially at the end and had people around me sobbing quietly, it also had a great blend of comedy and drama to play with the audiences emotions.

A couple of positives for the film, Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett have a great connection though out the film. During the romantic scenes it seems as if they are destined to be with each other (as cheesy as that sounds). Apart from the two main characters there was some other great acting talents like British actor Jason Flemyng. Also the story is very interesting however seems to get bland towards the end. At least it’s different from a lot of films that come out. I guess during this period of serious films such as ‘Milk’ and ‘Frost/Nixon’ its nice to see something that’s plays heavily on the emotions that ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ didn’t.

Now for the negatives, even though it won an award for its use of CG I thought it was very over used and noticeable which distracted me at parts during the beginning of the film. Also I loved the first half of the film because it was all old and magical seeing Pitt getting younger, however towards the end of the film it seemed more ordinary and even slightly boring due to the fact that it lost its spark that it had at the beginning. However it had to be in it to tell the rest if the story and tie up the loose ends.

With ‘Curious Case Of Benjamin Button’ I couldn‘t help but feel that it was trying to be a modern ‘Forrest Gump’ (1994)but with a twist. His seemingly ridicules life is full of brilliant character (who each influenced his life in a different way and great locations around the world from New Orleans to Moscow, the character of Benjamin was definitely a traveler. Even though my opinion of the film may seem contradictory at times, the point I'm trying g to get out is that it's a great film and all but it's not going to be remembered as a classic like 'Forrest Gump' was. I think that if you are going to the cinema then you should go see it after other films which I not need to mention, but it’s great for couple to go see. We will have to see this sunday what the Acadamy thinks on Fincher's lastest flick.

* * * *

Oliver Hunt