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Hanna: Movie Review

Mali Elfman — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 01:20:07 +0000

Rarely do you get so much fine acting, action and suspense all packed into one jet-fueled, 70s-Euro-esq thrill ride as you do in Hanna. Step aside Sucker Punch, it’s time for some real bad-ass chicks to take control. The film stars the impressive cast of the young and talented Saoirse Ronan; Cate Blanchette one of the best baddies there is; Eric Bana who provides both the depth and heart needed in the film; and finally Tom Hollander with one of his creepiest performances to date.

Director Joe Wright has made one of the most interesting and yet simple action films in theaters, which (aside from Source Code) is really the only thing worth seeing.Find out why it’s worth seeing below.

The Players:

Director: Joe Wright
Writer: Seth Lochhead and David Farr
Actor: Saoirse Ronan (interview), Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, Jessica Barden, Tom Hollander
Original Music by: Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons (as The Chemical Brothers)
Cinematography by: Alwin H. Kuchler

The Plot:

Hanna has the strength, the stamina, and the smarts of a soldier; but the brain and social aptitude of a young child. She’s been raised by her ex-CIA father in the wilds of Finland. She is sent into the world by her father on a mission, while a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets of her own tries to hunt her down.

The Good:

Action and Acting: Finally, an action film that actually hires solid actors to give real performances so that when the action scenes kick in, you actually care about them! All the characters have layers that are not fully explained, but felt by the audience and leave you intrigued. Who knew actions films could be so much fun!?
The Music: If you don’t see this film, you must buy the soundtrack. The music sets the pace for the film from the very beginning — it begins with a fast beat that lays underneathth the film like a heartbeat that just keeps beating, faster and faster. It’s relentless. Then they integrate a childlike innocence to it which they bring in at some of the most intense moment — perfectly balancing the naivety of the character with the growing dark and macabre atmosphere . Just be careful if you listen to it while driving, you’ll want to go fast, very fast.
The Pace: As was said about the music, the film sets a fast pace from the first moment the screen lights up and keeps a fast moving pace through to the bitter end. You won’t need to worry about feel the weight of this film’s length, it breezes right along.
The Old/Euro Feel: There’s something this film that reminds you of a 70′s, Italian, action thriller — but brought to modern times and presented in a modern way. It’s absolutely wonderful because it takes the best of that era and brings it to modern cinema. Very nice touch.

The Bad:

The Inciting Event: One could pick apart this and a few other details from the film that really don’t make perfect sense. There are definitely some things that could absolutely never happen, but because of how strong the rest of the film is, for some reason I didn’t really mind the problems with the story and enjoyed some of the more inconceivable action scenes — they all seemed to help the story move along and didn’t outwardly hurt the story. I’m a stickler for this kind of stuff, but they did such a good job of tying it into the film and making it their own that it didn’t really hurt them. So why not!?

Overall:

Really great film that will keep your heart pumping while watching some fine acting on the big screen. Go see it! Make it a double bill with Source Code!

Rating: 8/10

Hanna is in theaters starting April 11th.

Trailer:

New Clips from Hanna: Cate Blanchette and Scary Germans

Mali Elfman — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:03:01 +0000

Two new clips for Joe Wright‘s action-packed thriller Hanna have just been sent over from Focus and they’ve got some great moments in them that you have to check out. The film stars one of the most talented young actresses currently working today, Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones, Atonement) as Hanna with Eric Bana and Cate Blanchette in supporting roles, and Tom Hollander is one of his creepiest performances to date. In the clips you get to see a lot of the set up that makes the film so great. The action is fun, but it’s the characters that keep us interested and this film has a ton of “colorful” characters. Check them out below…

Cate Blanchette get’s serious in “Safari Club” clip:

Prepare to have this theme stuck in your head after the movie. They do a very clever job of intertwining it into the film in different ways to add a sweet, childlike essence to the evil Germans coming to get Hanna; who you can see in the clip below…

See Saoirse as Hanna in action in this clip entitled “Don’t Follow Me”:

These just make we want to see the film again… or at least put the soundtrack back on. The Chemical Brothers have created an amazing sound for the film that goes great for driving fast through traffic.

You can receive free download of a The Chemical Brothers song (as featured on the soundtrack) if you purchase tickets for the film on Fandango or MovieTickets.

Will you check out the film?

New Photos From Joe Wright’s Hanna

Krystal Clark — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:37:38 +0000

Some new images have premiered online from Joe Wright’s teen assassin flick Hanna. The movie stars Saoirse Ronan as the title character, who looks unassuming on the outside but is a lean, mean killing machine. Aussie actors Eric Bana and Cate Blanchett also star as opposing forces trying to control the teen. Check out the latest batch of photos…

Official Synopsis:

Raised by her father (Eric Bana of Star Trek), an ex-CIA man, in the wilds of Finland, Hanna’s upbringing and training have been one and the same, all geared to making her the perfect assassin. The turning point in her adolescence is a sharp one; sent into the world by her father on a mission, Hanna journeys stealthily across Europe while eluding agents dispatched after her by a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets of her own (Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett). As she nears her ultimate target, Hanna faces startling revelations about her existence and unexpected questions about her humanity.

Hanna opens in theaters everywhere on April 8.

What do you think of the new photos from Hanna? Are you interested in seeing the film?

Source: Cinemablend

Brand New Poster for Hanna – Adapt or Die

Krystal Clark — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 20:33:41 +0000

Someone better watch out because Hanna is on the prowl. A new poster has been released for Joe Wright’s juvenile action flick that centers on a teenage assassin. This one sheet gives a new meaning to the term “eye of the tiger.” Check out the rest of Saoirse Ronan and her deadly stare below…

Official Synopsis:

Raised by her father (Eric Bana of Star Trek), an ex-CIA man, in the wilds of Finland, Hanna’s upbringing and training have been one and the same, all geared to making her the perfect assassin. The turning point in her adolescence is a sharp one; sent into the world by her father on a mission, Hanna journeys stealthily across Europe while eluding agents dispatched after her by a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets of her own (Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett). As she nears her ultimate target, Hanna faces startling revelations about her existence and unexpected questions about her humanity.

Besides Ronan, Hanna stars Tom Hollander, Olivia Williams, and Jason Flemyng. He’s in everything isn’t he?

Hanna opens in theaters everywhere on April 8.

What do you think of the new poster for Hanna? Are you excited about the film?

Saoirse Ronan Snaps Necks in Hanna Movie Trailer

Krystal Clark — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 23:49:33 +0000

Saoirse Ronan is kicking ass and taking names later in the first trailer for Joe Wright’s teen assassin flick Hanna. Unlike Hit Girl in Kick-Ass, Hanna has less of a foul mouth and more of a deadly aim. She’s acrobatic, smart, and quick on her feet. Who do you think would win in a fight? It’s hard to tell. Check out the trailer…

Are we the only ones who get a Jodie Foster from Silence of the Lambs vibe from Cate Blanchett in this trailer? And the choice of music at the end of it is hilarious but odd. Other than that, we’re interested in seeing what else this movie has to offer.

Synopsis:

Hanna (Ronan) is a teenage girl. Uniquely, she has the strength, the stamina, and the smarts of a solider; these come from being raised by her father (Eric Bana), an ex-CIA man, in the wilds of Sweden. Living a life unlike any other teenager, her upbringing and training have been one and the same, all geared to making her the perfect assassin. The turning point in her adolescence is a sharp one; sent into the world by her father on a mission, Hanna journeys stealthily across Europe while eluding agents dispatched after her by a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets of her own (Blanchett). As she nears her ultimate target, Hanna faces startling revelations about her existence and unexpected questions about her humanity.

Hanna is scheduled to hit theaters on April 8, 2011.

What do you think of the first trailer for Hanna?

The Chemical Brothers Scoring Joe Wright’s Hanna

Krystal Clark — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 15:13:15 +0000

A lot of interesting news has come out of this year’s New York Comic-Con. Last week, we learned about Warner Bros/DC Entertainment’s plans for their upcoming superhero films. Unfortunately, the Justice League’s future isn’t looking too bright. But on a positive note, director Joe Wright held a panel for his new teen assassin flick Hanna, where it was revealed that the film will have a kick-ass score composed by none other than The Chemical Brothers.

According to Firstshowing, the moderator at the panel introduced some clips from Hanna, and mentioned that “there will be Chemical Brothers music behind it.” The site’s very own Alex Billington was in attendance and decided to ask the director himself if he could expand on that statement. Wright said, “The Chemical Brothers will be scoring the entire movie to provide a more “modern beat” instead of the classical scores of his previous films.” Nice!

Hanna centers on a 14-year-old Eastern European girl (Saoirse Ronan) who has been raised by her father to be a cold-blooded killing machine. She connects with a French family, forms a friendship with their daughter and goes through the pangs of adolescence. When the girl is dragged back to her father’s world and discovers that she was bred as a killing machine in a CIA prison camp, she must fight her way to a free life.

What do you think of the Chemical Brothers scoring Hanna?

Joe Wright Developing Live Action Little Mermaid

Krystal Clark — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 22:09:01 +0000

Joe Wright is a talented director who’s known for picking his projects carefully. He previously directed such acclaimed films as Pride and Prejudice and Atonement and now he wants to tackle — The Little Mermaid. According to THR, Wright is developing a live action version of the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale alongside Working Title Films.

The script for the film has been written by Abi Morgan and “tells the classic tale of a young mermaid who gives up her life in the sea to love a human prince.” The story was first published by Andersen in 1837 and has been adapted multiple times over for film and television. One of the most famous versions is the 1989 Disney animated film (which is one of my favorite movies of all time!).

Wright has the talent to pull off any script that’s thrown his way but when was the last time we saw live action mermaids used effectively onscreen? Splash? That was over 25 years ago! Also, if we have to sit through Keira Knightley as the title character we’re going to have a serious problem.

What do you think of Wright taking on The Little Mermaid? Do you think a good live action version is possible?

Eric Bana Takes Father Role in Joe Wright’s Hanna

Laura Aguirre — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:47:32 +0000

Eric Bana is best known for his roles in action films (Star Trek and Troy), but lately the Australian-native has been taking a turn towards the slightly more dramatic or comedic (Funny People, The Time Traveler’s Wife). In his next role, Bana will play the father of a trained Eastern European assassin (Saoirse Ronan) in Hana. However, don’t let the description fool you, there’s a good chance that Hanna will be more packed with drama than action due to the the director, Joe Wright (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement and The Soloist).

According to THR‘s plot description, it seems like Hanna will focus more on Ronan than on Bana:

“[Hanna is] the story of a 14-year-old Eastern European girl saved from a CIA breeding camp and raised by her dad to be a cold-blooded killing machine. After finding peace with a French family, the girl is dragged to her father’s world, and she must fight her way to a free life.”

Some of us might be used to Bana in more action-packed roles, but he’s definitely tackled the dramatic-father role before, the aussie played Kodi Smit-McPhee‘s dad in Romulus, My Father. There’s a good chance that Bana can give an amazing dramatic performance under Joe Wright’s direction.

Hanna is set for release in 2011.

What do you think of Bana’s playing the part?

Joe Wright to Direct Hanna

Krystal Clark — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:09:17 +0000

Director Joe Wright will take on the story of a teenage killer with his next project according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film is entitled Hanna, and will be a bit of a stretch from Wright’s previous work Atonement and Pride and Prejudice. Hanna has been in development at Focus Features for the past two years with several directors showing interest.

Hanna has bounced between some of Hollywood’s top director’s including Danny Boyle and Alfonso Cuaron in recent weeks. The film is being described as a combination of the Jason Bourne movies mixed with La Femme Nikita. The story will center on a 14-year-old Eastern European girl who has been raised by her father to be a cold-blooded killing machine. She connects with a French family, forms a friendship with their daughter and goes through the pangs of adolescence. When the girl is dragged back to her father’s world and discovers that she was bred as a killing machine in a CIA prison camp, she must fight her way to a free life.

Due to the budget concerns of Wright’s previously announced film Indian Summer, Hanna will be his next project to start production. It will be interesting to see Wright take on this type of material, as compared to the dramatic fair he’s directed in recent years. He definitely knows how to deal with female protagomists, but the action element of Hanna might throw him off. Do you think he can handle it?

What do you think about Joe Wright Directing Hanna?

Keira Knightly Confirmed for My Fair Lady

Krystal Clark — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:23:44 +0000

We knew this would happen sooner or later. It looks like the remake of the 1964 George Cukor classic, My Fair Lady has gained momentum. Keira Knightley was rumored to star as the lead character in the new version of the film forever, and according to The Telegraph, she has officially won the role of Eliza Doolittle and beat out Scarlett Johannson to do it.

Not only will Knightley take on the famous role originally played by the late Audrey Hepburn, but she will reunite with Atonement director Joe Wright for the project. According to /Film, Wright has been named as the director of the remake that will have a screenplay written by Emma Thompson. Knightley has been training for the role by taking vocal lessons which she started over a year ago when the casting rumors first began.

If Knightley’s been cast as Eliza, who could possibly play her counterpart Prof. Henry Higgins? If all goes well, the front runner Daniel Craig will take on the role, which was previously played by Rex Harrison in the original. I’m personally against this remake on all accounts, because the 1964 version is fine the way it is. Nothing against the talent of any of the people involved, but this is just unnecessary.

What do you think of Keira Knightley starring in My Fair Lady?

Working Title To Make Bridget Jones 3 and Indian Summer

Anet Hovhanesian — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:55:22 +0000

British Production Company Working Title is going to be busy in the near future. Rumor has it that the third installment of the hit series Bridget Jones starring the always talented Renee Zellweger has been confirmed and they will also be developing Joe Wright’s previously announced film, Indian Summer, starring Cate Blanchett.

Zellweger will have to gain weight again in order to reprise one of the most known roles in her career as Bridget Jones, the British Publishing exec with weight issues and trouble finding love. Her character is now in her 40′s and after her engagement to Mark in the second movie, Bridget is struggling to have a baby before her biological clock ticks out. This is likely based on the weekly columns author Helen Fielding wrote in 2005 for British newspaper the Independent.

The movie will probably not go into production until the end of next year. No writer or director has been confirmed as of yet, nor have they come up with a title. So how does the star of the movie feel about the excess pounds she will have to put on for the movie? According to Aceshowbiz.com she said:

“If it were to happen, then the least of my concerns would be putting the weight on again…I’ve said it before: I like it when I look a little more voluptuous.”

In Working Title’s next big film, Indian Summer, Blanchett will star as Lady Edwina Mountbatten. The film is based on the book of the same name by Alex von Tunzelmann, about the last days of Britain’s colonial rule of India in 1947. Working Title co-toppers Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan will produce this movie along with Hilary Bevan Jones. William Nicholson is writing the screenplay. Filming should begin next year.

Which movie are you more excited about? Who do you think is a better actress, Zellweger or Blanchett?

Poll: Is Joe Wright’s Domestic Abuse PSA too Violent?

Krystal Clark — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:00:26 +0000

The above video is a PSA for the UK charity Women’s Aid shot by Atonement director Joe Wright. The video stars Keira Knightley, and follows her as she wraps after a day on set. She arrives at her apartment to find blood, shattered glass and her estranged boyfriend waiting for her. From that point on she is viciously attacked while the camera pulls back from the scene and a tag line appears that reads, “Isn’t it time someone called cut?” I think the ad was done very well, but some people think it’s too graphic. Do you agree?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

ScreenCrave.com » joe wright

Hanna: Movie Review

The Players:

The Plot:

The Good:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 8/10

Trailer:

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