Hanah is a top notch action thriller. The plot fits perfectly into the modern spy thriller genre: super spies, out of control government agents, cover ups, and questionable morality on all sides. The action is well choreographed. I liked the music that signaled bouts; it was subtle and fitting for the mood. Like all good genre films, it follows a well worn story arch. Unlike a great genre film, it does not play with the boundaries.
Hanah's strength are its writing and its performances. The characters, despite being stock genre tropes, are fully fleshed out and believable. Blanchet's CIA operative is deliciously twisted and broken. Ronan's Hanah blends the innocence of burgeoning young adulthood with a killer's coolness. The interaction between Hanah and the tourist family is brilliant.
It is definitely a movie worth seeing.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Inception
Instead of suffering through the Super Bowl, I decided to catch up on some movie watching.
Inception was on the top of the list. I have wanted to see it since it came out, but just have not had the chance. The only bummer with this plan was that I wouldn't get to see it on the big screen. Inception feels like a movie that should be seen at scale. Instead, I watched it on an iPad. (I forgot that the 27" iMac was available for use...).
Even in miniature, Inception is an exceptional movie. The set pieces and effects would be much better at big scale, but they are still impressive. The strength of the movie is that it doesn't require the set pieces and effects to have impact. The acting and plot are central to the movie. It proves that block busters can be smart, demanding, and original.
The plot is a mind-bender from the outset. I never felt certain where the 'real world' existed, if it existed at all. You are presented with what seems like a baseline real world, but hints are dropped that it may not be real either. For me, this made the experience more interesting. The location of reality doesn't necessarily change the outcome. It does, however, change how you feel about the ending. I liked that the plot doesn't force the interpretation on the viewer and trusts the viewer to make their own decisions.
The performance from DiCaprio is stunning. He is damaged and earnest with depth. He finds a way to make a slimy guy sympathetic. I never really liked his character, but I did care about what happened to him. I wanted him to succeed.
Nolan and DiCaprio are rightfully in the top echelon of film makers.
Inception was on the top of the list. I have wanted to see it since it came out, but just have not had the chance. The only bummer with this plan was that I wouldn't get to see it on the big screen. Inception feels like a movie that should be seen at scale. Instead, I watched it on an iPad. (I forgot that the 27" iMac was available for use...).
Even in miniature, Inception is an exceptional movie. The set pieces and effects would be much better at big scale, but they are still impressive. The strength of the movie is that it doesn't require the set pieces and effects to have impact. The acting and plot are central to the movie. It proves that block busters can be smart, demanding, and original.
The plot is a mind-bender from the outset. I never felt certain where the 'real world' existed, if it existed at all. You are presented with what seems like a baseline real world, but hints are dropped that it may not be real either. For me, this made the experience more interesting. The location of reality doesn't necessarily change the outcome. It does, however, change how you feel about the ending. I liked that the plot doesn't force the interpretation on the viewer and trusts the viewer to make their own decisions.
The performance from DiCaprio is stunning. He is damaged and earnest with depth. He finds a way to make a slimy guy sympathetic. I never really liked his character, but I did care about what happened to him. I wanted him to succeed.
Nolan and DiCaprio are rightfully in the top echelon of film makers.
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