Movie Review - Hanna

Hanna (2011)

Starring Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, and Eric Bana

Directed by Joe Wright

Whereas his previous works -- Pride and Prejudice, Atonement, and The Soloist -- were more by-the-book in terms of camera angles, editing, and acting, director Joe Wright's Hanna takes on a slightly more manic and hectic tone.  Unfortunately, despite the attempts to create excitement via his lensing, the story of a young girl (the title character played by a unemotional and bland Saoirse Ronan) trained by her father (Eric Bana) to enact revenge on the CIA operatives who wreaked havoc on their family over a decade ago just doesn't have enough drive to make the whole affair interesting for some inexplicable reason.

Perhaps it's wrong to say this about a young actress, but I'm not sure Saoirse Ronan has what it takes to headline a movie.  Admittedly, I've only seen her in Atonement and The Lovely Bones, but she has managed to come across as utterly one-note in all three films.  I've yet to see depth in any performance from her and it's much more evident in this film seeing as how she plays the title character.  Her eyes are constantly glazed over and appear empty.

It also doesn't help matters that Cate Blanchett's CIA operative almost seems to be pulled straight from some James Bond/Austin Powers-type flick.  Played rather tongue-in-cheeky and with a over-the-top country accent, her character comes off as laughable as opposed to ominous.

With the two main characters (and/or their actors) providing disappointment, it's no surprise that the film falters.  While it certainly hurts that Ronan isn't captivating, director Wright doesn't quite have a good grasp on balancing the rather ingeniously edited and oftentimes wonderfully disorienting action sequences with the slower paced "dramatic" moments.  Any scenes that don't find Hanna fighting some foe overstay their welcome...much like the film itself which feels about thirty minutes too long.

The RyMickey Rating:  C-