I'm back to my old tv watching self. I caught strep throat and have been out of commission for about a week and a half. Hooray! I didn't even get a chance to miss work. A coworker was hospitalized right around the same time that I started saying, "Hmmm. My throat is a little sore." His absence stretched the staff very thing. I worked two eleven hour days in a row to help cover for him. He's much better now and will be returning on Thursday!
A couple of days ago, I wrote a review for the film "Let the Right One In." Here it is.
When I walked into the cinema, I knew nothing about this film. (In fact, I actually wasn't entirely sure about the title. I knew that it began with the word "Let" and it ended with "In".) It had been recommended by a trustworthy friend, and the cinema is less than a block from where I work. My first impression of the film was, "Hey! I think it is in Swedish." From there it was a pretty wild ride...
This is a classic coming of age story. Oskar is an awkward and shy boy who is frequently abused by the other children in his school. One night, while Oskar is acting out a revenge fantasy in front of his apartment complex, he meets a girl, Eli. Eli is vastly more confident and capable than Oskar, so they really hit it off. They hang out a bit and become closer. This is about when we find out (if you haven't read any reviews) that Eli is a vampire.
The horror in this film is beautifully downplayed. If anyone tells you that this is a horror film, he or she is a liar and should be hung up by the feet and drained of all blood. This is a coming of age film that just happens to contain some horror elements. It successfully captures the awkwardness of early puberty and the strangeness of having absent parent figures. It is right in that moment of life when parents trust their children to be alone when they really, really shouldn't. You know the moment; right about the time that you start thinking that it's a good idea to steal your parents' cigarettes or car, and they punish you by forcing you to smoke an entire pack of cigarettes or by backing over you with the car.
Ultimately, I loved this film. I could see this film being remade in Hollywood with Hillary Duff as Eli and Jonathan Taylor Thomas as Oskar (note: I am totally pulling random names out of thin air). There would be car chases and blood all over the place and at least one PG-13 sex scene, but that would be an atrocity and I would sooner gouge my eyes out and light myself on fire than see it. This film is perfect as it is. It was beautifully shot and casted. The children managed not to get on my nerves (quite a feat considering that I really dislike children in that age group), and it reminded me of my more awkward years. In fact, it almost made me nostalgic. At least my first love didn't kill people.... well, not that I know of.
However, a word of warning: If you think you are going to be seeing a traditional-Hollywood-gorefest-horror film, stay at home, mail your local indie cinema a check, and watch Van Helsing again.
A couple of days ago, I wrote a review for the film "Let the Right One In." Here it is.
When I walked into the cinema, I knew nothing about this film. (In fact, I actually wasn't entirely sure about the title. I knew that it began with the word "Let" and it ended with "In".) It had been recommended by a trustworthy friend, and the cinema is less than a block from where I work. My first impression of the film was, "Hey! I think it is in Swedish." From there it was a pretty wild ride...
This is a classic coming of age story. Oskar is an awkward and shy boy who is frequently abused by the other children in his school. One night, while Oskar is acting out a revenge fantasy in front of his apartment complex, he meets a girl, Eli. Eli is vastly more confident and capable than Oskar, so they really hit it off. They hang out a bit and become closer. This is about when we find out (if you haven't read any reviews) that Eli is a vampire.
The horror in this film is beautifully downplayed. If anyone tells you that this is a horror film, he or she is a liar and should be hung up by the feet and drained of all blood. This is a coming of age film that just happens to contain some horror elements. It successfully captures the awkwardness of early puberty and the strangeness of having absent parent figures. It is right in that moment of life when parents trust their children to be alone when they really, really shouldn't. You know the moment; right about the time that you start thinking that it's a good idea to steal your parents' cigarettes or car, and they punish you by forcing you to smoke an entire pack of cigarettes or by backing over you with the car.
Ultimately, I loved this film. I could see this film being remade in Hollywood with Hillary Duff as Eli and Jonathan Taylor Thomas as Oskar (note: I am totally pulling random names out of thin air). There would be car chases and blood all over the place and at least one PG-13 sex scene, but that would be an atrocity and I would sooner gouge my eyes out and light myself on fire than see it. This film is perfect as it is. It was beautifully shot and casted. The children managed not to get on my nerves (quite a feat considering that I really dislike children in that age group), and it reminded me of my more awkward years. In fact, it almost made me nostalgic. At least my first love didn't kill people.... well, not that I know of.
However, a word of warning: If you think you are going to be seeing a traditional-Hollywood-gorefest-horror film, stay at home, mail your local indie cinema a check, and watch Van Helsing again.