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| Movie Review: Let Me In Alternate Title: Knock, Knock - Who's There?
Story: I am not a big fan of
remakes especially when the original was so terrific. However, a big
shout out to director and writer Matt Reeves with his
solid remake of the 2008 Swedish film Let the Right One
In, which was based on the novel Lat den Ratte
Komma In by John Ajvide Lindqvist. Instead of Stockholm, this film takes place in
1983, Los Alamos, New Mexico. It is winter, Ronald Reagan is President
and can be seen and heard in the background as he talks about good and
evil in the world. It is a time before DNA, forensics, the Internet,
tweeting and blogging. In many ways it seems like a much simpler time.
It is in this setting that we meet a lonely, bullied 12 year old boy
who finds a ray of hope in another 12 year old girl who has just moved
into his apartment complex. She seems to be equally lonely and sad which
makes for a perfect blend of commonalities mixing to form a relationship.
In the courtyard, at night, their friendship develops. The film has a dark tone and mood and the pace
is unhurried. The viewer slowly but surely begins to care deeply about
the characters. The larger question of what is evil looms throughout
the film. Director Reeves stuck close to the original and I walked out
with two thumbs up and was thinking about the film for many hours afterwards.
Read my review of the original film here: http://www.judithwolfe.com/lobosmoviereviews/reviews/letrightonein.html Check out the trailer here and the original trailer
below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsWJt5tNLKg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICp4g9p_rgo Acting: Chloë Grace Moretz as Abby hits her mark.
Kodi Smit-McPhee as Owen is wonderful. Richard
Jenkins as the Father never fails to give a great performance
and Elias Koteas as the Policeman does a fine job.
Trivia: Richard Jenkins is one of several Rhode Island
residents who have made films for the Farrelly Brothers. In four of
their pictures, Richard even bought a house down the street from the
brothers' childhood home in Cumberland, Rhode Island. Kodi Smit-McPhee
(born June 13, 1996) is an Australian actor, probably best known for
his role in The Road. Chloë Grace Moretz (born
February 10, 1997) is an American teen actress, known for her role as
Hit-Girl in the 2010 superhero film Kick-Ass. She also appeared in Days
of Summer and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and now portrays Abby, the child
vampire, in Let Me In.
Predilection: I liked the original.
Critters: None
Food: Bubble gum is a big food item.
Sex Spectrum: None
Soundtrack: Terrific.
Opening Titles: The title appears on a black background
with red type. The credits are all at the end.
Visual Art: A wonderful stark New mexico landscape.
Theater Audience: About 25 other adventurous movie
goers.
Weather: Cold and snowy.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 2
Squirm Scale: I did not squirm over the vampire parts
but did squirm over the bullying.
Drift Factor: I was attentive throughout.
Predictability Level: I saw the original. Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: Probably not.
Big Screen or Rental: Go for the big screen and rent
the original.
Length: Under two hours.
LOBO HOWLS: 8
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