There are creepy things in the world. Some are scary creepy like circus clowns and evil children in films. Then there is creepy in something you would never expect to see and just makes you uncomfortable. Like seeing a child actress who just “Gets it.â€. Such is the case with Saoirse Ronan. You may remember her as the 13 year old novelist Briony Tallis in the Joe Wright directed film adaptation of Ian McEwan’s 2001 novel Atonement. Or as Susie Salmon in Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones (great film). Ronan actually was nominated for both a Golden Globe and Academy Award for her role in Atonement at the age of 13.
Last night I watched her in Hanna. Having being a fan of The Lovely Bones but never having seen Atonement, (which I will see shortly I assure you), I thought the premise was interesting and figured I would give it a shot. Now when I say it is creepy to see a child actress who knows what she is doing,I mean it. Now try watching a child actress who “Gets it†as well as does a very believable German accent. Erie. This is talented actress who will one day win an Academy Award. You heard it here first. She will only grow as an actress and get better which is again…creepy. Funny enough I talked about accents in film in an earlier blog. As someone who prides himself I being able to pick up accents this film had some great accents. In that same blog I mention Tim Monich who was the dialect coach for Invictus and so he assumes the same role for Hanna. What I would give to have been born into an acting family. She is something to behold and I invite you to check out her films. But now a little more about Hanna.
Joe Wright directs this film about a girl who was raised in the deep forest of North Finland by her ex-CIA father Erik Heller played by Eric Bana. Her father trains her in an “Adapt or Die†fashion helping her gain strength, stamina and acute survivor instincts. She is trained in multiple facets of fighting weaponry and even languages. There is a great scene with her stating she like Arabic because it is so full like Japanese.
This film is a very twisted, yet entertaining, coming of age movie. Basically having lived in the forest all her life Hanna feels she is ready to make her way in the real world although she has known from a very early age that once she leaves, there is a woman who wants to find her and it is a “one of us must die” scenario. Hanna decides the time is right and so the story really begins to unfold. The CIA realizes that Erik Heller (Bana) has come out of hiding and made his presence known. This leads to the capture of Hanna…or better stated as the orchestrated capture of Hanna. Enter Marissa Wiegler, (played by the incredible Cate Blanchette), the CIA operative who was assigned Heller years ago and the aforementioned nemesis of Hanna. Now the plot really begins to unfold. Throw in the really spooky “fixer†Isaacs (Tom Hollander) who has an affinity for whistling and hermaphrodites and we really get rolling. We get to see the dark side of Hanna but we also get to see her make some friends and try to be a normal girl while avoiding the clutches of the people hunting her.
This film is not a fast paced, non-stop action movie. The action scenes are well choreographed and the detail is great. It is the story of Hanna and the amazing performance by Ronan that keeps us watching. Her very demented coming of age story is gripping. The cast is top notch and the film makes you think at least a little so you have to keep “Focused†(oh yeah, it is a “Focus†feature). I enjoyed this film and seeing a great actress just starting her career and I think you would as well.
I should have seen this film sooner. Guess I will just have to figure out a method for my “Atonementâ€.
I know…cheesy.
