Hanna

HANNA (2011) - Apr. 8, 2011
About a teenage girl, raised in seclusion by her father to be an efficient assassin, who is let loose in the world with the ultimate goal of killing the woman who killed her mother.  Though the premise would lead you to believe that this is a straightforward action film, the movie is actually pretty unique and has a very distinctive sense of style.  Joe Wright's stylish direction, along with the quirky script and the Chemical Brothers' effective and memorable score, creates a world that feels refreshingly unique.  There are also some great action set-pieces here, including one that unfolds in a glorious unbroken De Palma-esque steadicam shot.  Saoirse Ronan is quite good in the title role, creating a character who we definitely come to care about.  This film is pretty much the polar opposite of the gritty realism that seems to be de rigueur in the action genre these days; the film has a really stylized, quirky, almost fairy tale-esque vibe that never feels smug or like it's trying too hard.  It's rare to watch a big studio film and feel like you're watching something fresh, something that's actually trying to do something a bit different.  This feels that way.  ***1/2