When I was watching the movie Hanna, I kept wondering if this movie was attempting to recreate a specific Grimm fairy tale. It was only after that I realized that it was creating a new one that encompassed them all. It opens in a frozen white forest where the young Hanna is stalking a reindeer with her bow. The well trained Hanna makes no noise and seems to disappear into the woods. It is only after her kill that her father appears claiming “You’re dead.” The brief action sequence sets up who the main character is in a quick 5 minute sequence. Hanna is a lethal force.
She is living in isolation with her father Erik (played by Eric Bana) who has trained her every day of her life with the singular task of killing Marissa Wiegler. She is curious of the world outside and Erik attempts to teach her of it but seems unable to tell her what it is to feel music or the simple pleasure of a kiss. There relationship is categorized as father and daughter but that is as close to the relationship as it becomes. Even when she reaches out for comfort, Erik and Hanna hug as though no feelings exist between them. In time (meaning as the movie begins because the snowy wilderness is a great place to visit but a whole movie there would be like being slapped in the sack with a bag of ho-ho’s... fun but not really), as is true with every parent, he must let his daughter go and experience the world.
Thus begins the journey of Hanna in the world, going on a journey to be reunited with her father in Germany at the home of Grimm himself. Throughout she is hunted by Wiegler’s evil stepmother and the three wolves. I enjoy the scenes of Hanna with a vacationing British family, meeting new friends and attempting to protect them from the danger she’s in. Her tentative first moves with a boy who wants to kiss her and her awkward verbal diarrhea in her nervousness. Hanna touches everyone she meets and scarily enough they all want to protect her. As if she’d need it. When Marissa finally comes face to face with her, you almost see her need to protect her too... just in a more permanent less lively way.
I’d love to write a long explanation of why you should see this movie because you should. I’d love to tell you all the details of the story and show you why this movie is worth the $10.25 a ticket (at least here) costs you because this movie is worth it. I could praise the action (smart, deadly and dangerous) or the cinematography (sparse at times, lush at others and beautiful regardless). It is worthy of all the praise it gets. So when all is said, as only I can say it, Mr. Unhappy Sez: Hanna, while being both dark and disturbing, has a story to tell and you, as a moviegoer, have an obligation to listen to it, see it, and ultimately enjoy the ride. Hanna sez so and I wouldn’t f*ck with her, she’s crazy.
The Untimely and grossly overrated Golden Unhappy Awards
Saoirse Ronan - The Hit-Girl award for badassness from a teenage girl
The Lil Miss Innocent Award
Cate Blanchett - Best Evil Stepmother Award
Eric Bana - Most Useful Dad Taught Skillz Award
Up Next:
Special Late Night Screening
Scream 4
No comments:
Post a Comment