ScreenCrave.com » Elias Koteas

Let Me In: Movie Review

Mali Elfman — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:29 +0000

For those of you who were fans of Let the Right One In and are still in shock that they could ever remake such a masterpiece… keep reading. If you’re one of those people who wouldn’t see it because it had subtitles, jump to the next paragraph. I hate to admit this because I was one of those people scoffing at the remake BUT when I found out director Matt Reeves had a similar response when presented with the projected, my mind was slightly eased and I was intrigued once again. The when I saw the film, even I had to admit he did a successful job at newly re-imagining the novel and drawing your attention to certain things that weren’t in the original film.

For those of you who are Let Me In virgins, you’re in for a real treat. You’re about to be introduced to two of the most interesting characters ever brought to the big screen and this time, you won’t have to “struggle” (my god people it’s not that bad!) to keep up with the subtitles.

Reeves in a way accomplished the impossible – pleasing both parties – but has he made the better film? Find out below…

The Players:

Director: Matt Reeves
Writers: Matt Reeves (screenplay) and John Ajvide Lindqvist (novel)
Actors: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloe Moretz, Richard Jenkins, Cara Buono, Elias Koteas
Original Music by: Michael Giacchino
Cinematography by: Greig Fraser

The Plot:

A bullied young boy befriends a young female vampire who lives in secrecy with her guardian. The two outcasts begin to form a relationship and eventually build an unbreakable bond..

The Good:

The Story: This is the exact same basic story as the first film, it was a great then and it’s still great. The dynamic between the characters and the overall arch of the story was once again extremely fascinating to watch, especially through new eyes and a few added twists
The Characters: Though slightly different, what makes this story interesting is the relationship between all of the characters involved — nothing is ever simple and all of it has a deeper meaning. Though it’s slightly different in this film, there’s more anger, fear, love, more of everything, it’s still the same thing and therefore still brilliant. There are a few little twists, but they all add up to the same greater whole.

The Bad:

The Score (At Times): Overall I actually liked the score, especially in the opening and the horror moments, but the quiet, romantic moments were (much like they are in Hollywood) over-done and too forceful. What was great about the first film is that they weren’t afraid of silence when it was needed. The story and the characters don’t need that much encouragement, the scenes would have been much more powerful if they just let them play.
Special Effects: One of the changes that didn’t work for me was the addition of special effects, especially with our young vampire’s “transformation.” It wasn’t that they were bad effects, it’s just that they were just unnecessary and made it seem more like any other vampire film — which this is very much not. I assume this was Hollywood spicing things up a bit, but overall it almost cheapened those moments and would have been better off without it OR by using more old-fashioned techniques instead of CGI which doesn’t really go with the rest of the film or the story.

The Differences:

“Father” Daughter Relationship: I won’t say too much about this because it’s something for you to interpret for yourself, but Reeves’ has an interesting take on their relationship and cycles within the movie. Although I liked the idea, I didn’t like what it did to Owen’s character which made him more of a possible necessity for her, not just the love of his life. BUT, it was interesting to think about.
Abby’s Age: In the first film it was hinted at that she was much more mature and the actress, Lina Leandersson was perfect for that. In Reeves’ version, he makes Chloe a young girl has been stuck as a 12-year-old and at the same level of maturity forever. It’s an interesting change and one that opens doors to different ideas for the audience to mull over. It was went well with the change in casting. Lina and Chloe are both amazing, but both so different, it was nice to see the character evolve with both their performances.
The Kids Relationship: Partly because of Abby’s age and her relationship between her and her “father” the relationship between the two children was a bit more dramatic, one could almost say pushed at times. In the first film it was just love that brought them together, in this film it MIGHT be something else. Whether or not that’s something you enjoy is up to you, but at least it is well handled and explained.

Overall:

This is Let The Right One In made for people who are too lazy for subtitles. The source material and the journey is the same as the first film but there is enough re-imagining/reinterpreting to add some much new discoveries for those of you who will be seeing it again. Overall it’s a good film — which is saying a lot from someone who thought it should never be made! Is it better than the first? I’d say it’s different and possibly not AS great but still a solid film well worth seeing.

Rating: 8/10

Let Me In hits theaters October 1st!

Photos:

Trailer:

Bloody Let Me In Trailer – Red Band

Krystal Clark — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:31:29 +0000

Oh, damn it’s about to get bloody in here. The official red band trailer for Matt Reeves upcoming film Let Me In has been released. We gave you a first look analysis of the trailer when it was revealed at this year’s Comic-Con and now you can see it for your self. The similarities between the American and Swedish versions are eerie but don’t take our word for it. Watch the trailer…

Let Me In centers on a 12 year old girl named Abby (Chloe Moretz), who moves next door to a bullied boy named Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee). Owen is a social outcast who is viciously attacked at school and in his loneliness, forms a profound bond with his new neighbor. He can’t help noticing that Abby isn’t like anyone he’s ever met before. As a string of grisly murders occupy their town, Owen has to confront the reality that this seemingly innocent girl is really a savage vampire.

Let Me In is scheduled to hit theaters on October 1, 2010 just in time for Halloween season.

Comic-Con Coverage:

What do you think of the red band trailer for Let Me In? How does it look in comparison to the original?

Defendor: Movie Review

Mali Elfman — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:00:34 +0000

It’s time for the little guy to stand up for what’s right! This week in theaters Woody Harrelson appears on the big screen as Defendor, a guy willing to risk his own life, takeshis marbles and lime juice to the streets and attempt to defend the city from evil in the ultimate battles of Defendor vs. Captain Industry. Much like the lead character, this film has a lot of heart and isn’t afraid to take risks.

Lets take a look at why this film rises above the rest…

The Players:

Director/Writer: Peter Stebbings
Cast: Woody Harrelson, Kat Dennings, Elias Koteas, Sandra Oh, Elias Koteas
Music: John Rowley
Cinematography: David Greene

The Plot:

The film is a dramedy about a man named Arthur Poppington (Harrelson) who decides to become a superhero to help those in need. He fights against Captain Industry who he blames for the death of his mother and while on his journey for revenge, he meets and befriends a young prostitute (Dennings) who helps him along the way for crack.

The Good:

The Idea: Every film starts with an idea and grows from there. There was something about this film, its characters and the way that it was put together that feel very genuine. From the heart of the story about a struggling man who by all means should want to hate the world, but instead simply wants to make the world a better place to the way that it’s presented, there is something very simple and endearing about this film that makes you appreciate it and look past some minor faux pas.
The Dark Tone: Yes it’s a comedy (or dramaedy), but unlike some films of this genre which like to walk the line and never go too deep into either side, it’s not afraid to be brutally honest and go to really dark when needed. Even when a scene is humorous there is always a dark underlying current that can always be felt and rises up whenever needed. It’s a brave choice but well pulled off.
Woody Harrelson: There are very few actors that can act as crazy as him and yet come off as relate-able. Adding to the genuine quality that I mentioned earlier is a beautiful performance by Harrelson who is able to show both the humor and the depth of his character without ever looking like he’s trying.

The Bad:

Pacing: The film did have some moments that dragged a bit. While playing with the dark tone, sometimes is would become a bit too dreary and had trouble regaining its comedic momentum. That being said, this was only the case for a few moments and for the most part is balanced both sides very nicely.
Too Much Crack: It’s great that Kat Dennings went full crack-whore on us and she does a great job in the film, but (someone please correct me if I’m wrong) she’s ALWAYS sucking on her pipe. Doesn’t one normally take a few hits and then enjoy the high? And if a crackhead really takes that many hits wouldn’t that take a LOT of crack? Because she wasn’t supposed to have that much. Although I can’t really fault her on this, because I don’t really know the answer… I need some help, can anyone give me some insight on how much crack-heads sucks on their crack pipes? (I feel like I just wrote the start of a knock, knock joke)

Overall:

The film was an enjoyable twist from the norm and well put together. It’s not a film that will change your life, but it definitely will leave you with a sense of fulfillment walking out of the theater.

Rating: 7.5/10

Defendor will be in theaters February 26th.

More Let Me In Casting News

Krystal Clark — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:05:38 +0000

More casting has been announced for the English language remake of Let the Right One In. As we previously reported, the film entitled Let Me In will star Chloe Moretz, Kodi Smit-Mcphee, and Richard Jenkins. According to /Film, a press release has been sent out to publicize the beginning of the film’s production, and within the notice, a few casting announcements were revealed.

The film follows an overlooked and bullied boy named Owen (Smit-McPhee) who finds love and revenge through Abby (Moretz), a beautiful but peculiar girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders who turns out to be a vampire. Elias Koteas will star as a police officer, Cara Buono will play Owen’s mother, and Sasha Barrese will portray the character, Virginia. Jenkins is on board as the guardian to vampire girl, Abby.

According to the release, “while the new film will pay respect to the original Swedish version, [the filmmakers] intend to forge a unique identity for Let Me In, placing it firmly in an American context. The brilliance of [the original] story deserves to be seen by audiences on a wide scale and we are excited that the pieces are in place to make that a reality.”

Even though a lot of people are against the film being made, there should be some type of consolation in knowing that the original Swedish producers will be involved with the film. That way, if you were a die hard fan of the original, you can rest assured that some of original greatness will still be there. Let Me In is being directed by Matt Reeves, and is scheduled for release sometime next year.

What do you think of the casting additions to Let Me In?

Round Up: Ralph Fiennes, Street Fighter:The Legend of Chun Li, The Killer Inside Me

Krystal Clark — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:00:53 +0000

Here are some of the top stories you may have missed over the weekend…..

Ralph Fiennes is gearing up to make his directorial debut with Coriolanus. Fiennes will pull double duty as director and star of the film, which is based off of the Shakespearean play of the same name. Coriolanus is about a “proud but contemptuous soldier Coriolanus spurred on by his mother to run for the Roman Senate, which ultimately leads to his downfall.” [First Showing]
Kate Hudson, Ned Beatty, Casey Affleck, Jessica Alba, and Elias Koteas haved all signed on to star in the psychological thriller, The Killer Inside Me. The film is based off of the novel by Jim Thompson, and will be directed by Michael Winterbottom. [Screen Daily]
Get a sneak peak of Taboo from the hip hop group the Black Eyes Peas as he makes his feature film debut. The rapper will star as Vega in this months Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li. [First Showing]

Walk the Line director, James Mangold is working on an untitled legal thriller. “The script is based on the true story of a pair of New Orleans lawyer brothers who took on a multinational oil company and its heavyweight legal teams to rep the rights of the families of an oil rig that sank in a typhoon.” [Coming Soon]
View a photo of the Fallen, the title character from this summer’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Yes, it is in action figure form, but it gives us our first real peak at what the film’s villain will look like. [ScreenRant]

The Haunting in Connecticut Trailer

Mali Elfman — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:31:06 +0000

Well the trailer made it in time for Halloween, but not the movie. The film stars Amanda Crew, Virginia Madsen, Kyle Gallner, Elias Koteas and Martin Donovan. The movie is “based” on a true story (I love that line, it’s used to make you think that all the special effects they’ve conjured up could actually happen and therefore terrify you even more- genuinely I fall for it every time). The story is about a family that is forced to relocate near a clinic where their teenage son was being treated for cancer. The family begins experiencing violent, supernatural events that the parents first blame on stress from the illness, but they later discover that their new home is a former mortuary with a dark past. Creeped out yet?

Check out the trailer below…

So what do you think? Creepy horror movie based on reality? Or cheese-ball horror that you’ll be happy to miss out on?

ScreenCrave.com » Elias Koteas

Let Me In: Movie Review

The Players:

The Plot:

The Good:

The Bad:

The Differences:

Overall:

Rating: 8/10

Photos:

Trailer:

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Defendor: Movie Review

The Players:

The Plot:

The Good:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 7.5/10

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Round Up: Ralph Fiennes, Street Fighter:The Legend of Chun Li, The Killer Inside Me

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