Joe Wright took the movie world by storm when his earlier film, Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightly received four Academy Award nominations in 2005. He didn't stop there. Wright's next film, Atonement (starring James McAvoy and Saoirse Ronan) received six Oscar nominations as well as seven Golden Globe nominations and 14 British BAFTA nominations. It also won Best Film in 2007. The next film Wright directedThe Soloist (2009) with Robert Downey, Jr. and Jamie Foxx, took my breath away.
Now he has a new film reader for viewers on DVD, Blu-Ray, Digital Download, and On-Demand as of September 6, 2011. It's called Hanna.
Hanna as a Thriller
Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) is now 16-years-old. She was raised in a remote area of Finland by her father Erik (Erik Bana). He is an ex-CIA agent. Trained as an assassin, Hanna is ready to step into the world to cross Europe to kill intelligence operative Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett), who killed her mother.
I didn't really know what to expect when Universal Studios Home Entertainment sent Hanna for me to review. I'm not a huge fan of thrillers and get nightmares easily. To my delight, I discovered that Hanna is perfect for people like me. The filming is focused on art and movement more than exposing grotesque visuals to the viewer.
More Art Than Intrigue
If you are really into thrillers, this might not be the film for you. There are many glaring holes in the plot. The holes require more than the average sense of disbelief. For example, are we really supposed to believe that a girl in a bright orange jumpsuit isn't seen by anyone actively searching for her in a flat desert? And why would a girl who is comfortable enough with technology, lighting, and disinfecting showers completely unnerved by electricity and noise when she is in a room on her own? These factors, in addition to others, were enough to ruin the film for some of those who reviewed it with me.
I was more focused on the art and the acting. I didn't mind the holes, and really enjoyed seeing how each scene played out. The contrast in characters and dichotomy of Hanna's personality kept me riveted. I've never really given much thought to the idea that there can be a naive, innocent assassin.
Is this a good family film? Perhaps. It's not nightmare-inducing. Since it revolves around assassin, expect some violence and suspense. The film could promote good discussion on art, camera angles and acting - its greatest strength in my opinion. It could also inspire conversations on pacing and plot points.
- Title: Hanna
- Actors: Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, Tom Hollander, Olivia Williams
- Directors: Joe Wright
- Language: English
- Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
- Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
- Studio: Universal Studios
- DVD Release Date: September 6, 2011
- Rating: 3/5
- Run Time: 111 minutes
Christine Pollock - Christine Pollock loves to tell people that she watches TV for a living - a true fact that’s also appreciated by her ...
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