Wild Target

This film is a remake of a French film 'Cible emouvante'. As sometimes happens in these cases, a little is lost in translation. It's the story of Rose (Emily Blunt) who has swindled a dashing 'business man' Rupert Everett with a fake painting. Rupert then sets the best of the best solitary assassin Victor Maynard (Bill Nighy) to dispose of Rose. Through a series of cock ups, Victor fails to follow the job through, and so the mayhem begins. Victor ends up becoming mesmerised by Rose, and a hapless Rupert Grint (Tony) gets pulled along for the ride. Chastised by his ruthless overbearing Mother (brilliant Eileen Atkins), hounded by the second best assassin in Britain (a fabulously fake tanned Martin Freeman) the three become embroiled in an adventure that makes them all realise the true meaning of life. The film has some really charming and funny moments. Emily Blunt is a lovely actress, but I don't quite believe her as the wild Rose. Bill Nighy is also an English stalwart, but he only ever really plays, well, Bill Nighy. Uptight and unemotional, speaking through closed lips and stiff limbed. Rupert Grint is great as the permanently stoned, sport loving spy apprentice Tony. Rupert Everett tends to steal the show a little as the handsome completely amoral businessman Ferguson. There are some quite dark moments which don't really tally well with the light 'four weddings' feel of the film. The scenes are almost comic book England, very beautiful but so cliched, even down to the stolen Mini Cooper. It's worth a look, but the ending is quite disconcerting. Children that kill animals are just not even vaguely amusing, people maybe, but not animals.
Wild Target: Just misses the mark. 6/10.

Let Me In

Now I'm not usually a fan of spooky films. This is a remake of the much acclaimed Swedish film, 'Let the Right One In'. As a movie lover, I sometimes feel it's my duty to get out of the rut and see a film that I don't really want to see. I'm glad I saw this one. It's a dark tale, as you would imagine. The story of a lonely and much bullied boy named Owen, played by Kodi Smit-McPhee. Owen has no friends, until a shoeless girl appears in the apartment block named Abby played by Chloe Moretz last seen using the 'c' word as Hit-Girl in Kick Ass. Owen and Abby strike up a sweet friendship even though Abby warns that they can't. Of course Abby has a little secret in that she is a vampire. She lives with an older male who procures her food in a variety of awful ways. The local murders arouse the suspicions of the local police thank goodness. Investigations are led by a policeman played by Elias Coteas who looks disconcertingly like Robert De Niro. So the film unfolds as we find out what happens to our two young friends. The acting is very good. Abby is beguiling and sympathetic, well, as much as a blood drinking twelve year old can be. Owen is heartbreaking as a lonely young boy longing for a connection with someone. The adults are admirable as is the gore. The CGI is a little unbelievable though, which detracts a bit from the whole atmosphere. All in all, a very well made horror movie. Let's just say that I had to take a deep breath before kissing my kids goodnight when I got home. LET ME IN: You might think twice before being too hospitable. 7/10