Chemically Enhanced
Recently while channel surfing, I happened on Hanna (2011) on one of the Spanish stations, which has often provided entertainment while another show I’m watching is in commercial or I am unable to find something interesting to watch. Action flicks there are easy to follow. Law & Order, on the other hand, is not, to my disappointment. I’m almost five decades removed from my Spanish minor. Anyway, since Hanna features Bronx-born Saorise Ronan, then 17, and Cate Blanchett, I added it to my Netflix list. I’m glad I did. Although it covers familiar ground, it is a well-executed, fast-paced thriller. The focus of the story is a 14-year-old girl raised in isolation by her father, played by Eric Bana. For a reason unexplained in the early going, she is a target of government agents. In strength and agility, she is the equal of most men, even trained agents. The day comes when she is ready to venture out into the world. I do not understand why she activates a tracking signal. Perhaps it’s because she wants to attract the woman bound to kill her, to get that conflict out of the way so she can live freely. It seems silly that she would not try to first simply live under the radar. That is my only quibble, however. I enjoyed the ride, which is enhanced by a fantastic electronic-based score by the Chemical Brothers. London’s Joe Wright directed. He’s in the midst of a phenomenal career, having helmed Pride and Prejudice (200%), Atonement (2007), Anna Karenina (2012), 21 titles in total including four miniseries. 194,000+ users at IMDb have rated Hanna, forging to a consensus of 6.8 on a scale of ten. It has been successful financially as well, returning $63+ million on a budget of $30 million, and I’d bet it has added significantly to that total in DVD sales and rentals and streaming. It runs less than two hours. I don’t think its appeal extends beyond lovers of action fare, fans of the principal players, and girls who love to see one of their own kick butt. Ronan is fantastic, no surprise. She has received four nominations in the ensuing years, and it would be a major surprise if she never wins an Oscar. Here she is in character:
And here are The Chemical Brothers and a link to a short clip from the movie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wLXH_r_VAE
Amusing headline from nypost.com: “Thousands of NYC teachers haven’t been vaxxed. What — they’re all Trump supporters?”
Food for thought from an article by Tucker Carlson at foxnews.com, edited by yours truly: “Last week a panel of the FDA’s vaccine experts, by a vote of 16 to 2, rejected Biden’s plan for more shots.” Recall that two experts resigned when the rollout was announced. Perhaps an addendum to “Follow the science” is in order — “when it’s convenient.”
Here’s an eye-opening snippet from an FN article by Julia Musto about the California wildfires: “…14 arson arrests have been made this year in Shasta County and more than 100 have been made statewide.”
Another gorgeous day, perfect for selling stuff curbside. My thanks to the two gentlemen who did swaps, and to Bill Brown, author of Words and Guitar: A History of Lou Reed’s Music and other fine books, who bought Me, the Mob, and the Music: One Helluva Ride with Tommy James & The Shondells by Tommy James and Martin Fitzpatrick, and The Departed (2006) and The Matrix Revolutions (2003) on DVD; and to the woman who showed late and made the toil worthwhile, purchasing An Innocent Man by John Grisham, Merry Christmas, Alex Cross by James Patterson, and The Black Box and The Wrong Side of Goodbye by Michael Connelly.
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