Hanna

Insane. Fans of the American grand style and posing can watch Bourne or Mission Impossible 3. They are similarly “kinetic” films, but they are clear, linear, and much easier to grasp. Hanna’s problem is that it is sometimes on the verge of a paranoid thriller, which often turns into a hard-hitting action film interspersed with sci-fi elements. It has a British feeling, which I don't really like deep down. (28/10/2011)

As a fan of Joe Wright, a huge weight has been lifted from my heart. After the surprisingly average Atonement, he finally proves that he doesn't have to have British history on his side and that he can also bring a "made-to-order" script to the screen with elegance and powerful impact. Hanna can be cold and distant like the Finnish wilderness, but within seconds can switch and suddenly become completely personal and filled with tension. When combined with the teenage perfectionist Saoirse Ronan and the rhythm of the Chemical Brothers soundtrack, he creates an experience that is hard to replicate. (13/07/2011)

An art-action film about a hit girl searching for her own female identity. I'll probably never understand how someone could push a script like this past the studio bosses, but I won't hide the fact that I loved it. There probably won't be many conquerors of this film in the "weird" box this year. In any case, it's clear that one box is very small for Wright. The chemical music is great, and Saoirse is an excellent actress, but Cate should ditch the negative roles. The Soviet agent has been replaced by an American, the black hairstyle by a red one, but the tragedy is the same. 4 ½. (22/06/2011)

This action B-movie/Grimm fairytale cross about a girl assassin in the hands of Joe Wright turns into a visual gem. His direction is perfect and when I say perfect, I mean precise in all ways. In places he raises Hanna into an art form. Such a pleasure to watch. The story suffers from imbalance. The sequence with the “normal" family should have ended up packed in a container at the port together with a couple of other things. Saoirse Ronan’s acting is flawless, as always. Eric Bana as her slugger dad manages to show his best moves even in the little room he get (the one-shot scene after getting of the bus is genius). I hated that whistling bad guy from the moment that he began to whistle that revolting melody, and Cate Blanchett didn’t do anything special in this movie. The action scenes were a joy to watch. Adapt or die. (17/06/2011)

I admire Joe Wright's work and I think that, despite his last two mediocre films, he's the greatest British talent of our time, but I just don't give a damn about delicate little girls who can beat up a guy a head taller and 50 kg heavier in hand combat. Such stupidly naive screenplays probably don't even belong in contemporary cinema (I hereby salute the 80s). (27/07/2011)