If my TIFF coverage had such thing as a most requested post - this would be it.
As many of you know, this film is Matt Reeves American adaptation of John Lindqvist's novel Let The Right One In, which has already been adapted into the Swedish film of the same name.
First thing's first - no, it's not bad. At all. Reeves has brought a gentle touch to the film and handled both the horror and the relationship of Owen and Abby very well. The film is quiet, beautiful, terrifying and patient. Both of the two young actors inhabit their roles in a way that gives the roles wonderful nuance, it's Smit-McPhee that stands out. He finds a mix of isolation and fear that is well beyond his years, and will break your heart in a scene where he picks up a phone to call his father.
By now I'm sure you're wondering whether it's as good (nay better) than the original. I'm here to tell you that the question is irrelevant. Some will find the Swedish original as a masterpiece that should never have been re-interpreted. But I say that if this song was going to be covered, that it couldn't have gone much better than this. Would I prefer that audiences see LET THE RIGHT ONE IN instead of this? You bet. But if someone asked me whether they should watch this, SAW 3-D, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2 come October...the answer is simple.
There is a lot to like about LET ME IN, everything from the feelings it evokes of being bullied, to the violence it lets loose whenever Abby needs to do what she does best. After the screening Matt Reeves expressed how big a fan he was of the original, and how hesitant he was to make this version. The former point will come through on the screen, the latter point speaks volumes about his character as a creative talent.
Whether or not you see it is entirely up to you. If we're basing the decision on whether or not you feel the original should have been remade, I can follow your logic either way. All I would suggest is to come into it with an open mind, and focus on what's on the screen instead of what isn't.
LET ME IN opens in theatres everywhere on October 1st
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
TIFF Review: LET ME IN
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12 comments:
Well, that is good news then! At least they didn't mess it up. I usually don't like it when people try to re-make already perfect films. What's the point? Is it just so you don't have to read subtitles?
But I guess the plus side is that a lot more people get to see the story this way.
I don't think I'll be seeing this at the cinema but once the DVD is out I'll netflix it for sure.
I'm glad to hear that "Let Me In" is doing well. I wasn't too excited about this remake at first, but it really grew on and now I can't wait to see what it bring to the screen. Hopefully it'll surprise me.
Good write-up, man. Glad it's good and I'm not surprised the the original still reigns supreme. Will probably be seeing this, glad to hear McPhee is good, too.
@ Vanessa... You got it - not messed up at all. I'm with you on preferring the foreign originals, but every once in a while some foreign films can be parlayed into something special. Look at THE DEPARTED of FISTFUL OF DOLLARS.
@ Atroxion... I think you'll be very pleasantly surprised. The European influence of its predecessor is very tangible in this film.
@ AIden... McPhee damn near steals the show. Give it a look and be sure to do a post on your thoughts.
I've always thought The Departed to be better than it's foreign counterpart maybe the same holds true for this.
With your positive review looks like I'll be pulling a double-feature of this and Social Network on OCT. 1st
The Reelists also gave this movie a favourable review. I was hoping it would be good, so this positive buzz is making me happy. Lord knows we don't need more American remakes that make people cry like babies : Why the f*** did they have to screw that up?!?'
@ Fitz... I haven't seen THE SOCIAL NETWORK, but on paper that has all the marking of one amazingly fun double feature. Can't wait to read your thoughts on 'em!
@ Edgar... I was talking with Kurt from Row Three yesterday and he's not quite sold on this, so don't expect a landslide of positivity. While the original is still certainly better - this version is still one swell adaptation.
I think the problem most people had was the timing. The Swedish film had just been in theaters when it was announced they were working on the American version.
But glad to hear Let Me In is not bad, not really excited about it, but with your review and - being on Moretz train - I'm okay with it.
@ Amy... (Must have read my mind - I was gonna email you soon to see if you were keeping up with my posts!).
I don't think the timing was the biggest hurdle...I mean, look at how quickly American studios jumped on DRAGON TATTOO. I think it's just one of those films that people who see it love it so intently that they can't fathom anything else needing to happen with the story.
As I say though - it's been well adapted, so have fun watching it in a few short weeks.
The only problem is that I won't be able to see them with my better half. In fact I haven't spent much time with her at all with her new job.
Really? This version made me feel nothing. I actually cried during the bully scenes in the Swedish version but this one didn't affect me the same way. I thought the two young stars had literally zero chemistry, although I did think Kodi Smit-McPhee was great. There was so much in the book that wasn't in the Swedish version that could have been added to this one. This was definitely not a different adaptation, it was a mediocre version of the original, which in my opinion was perfect. I didn't care for the out of sequence scene at the beginning and then the story leading up to it...or the special effects...or the last scene being completely ruined. Sorry man, I thought is sucked and was hugely disappointed
@ Fitz... Tell me about it! My better half is doing TIFF as well, but we don't have all that many screenings in common. I've barely seen her for eleven days!
@ Sis... You might not have cried during the bully scenes this time because you knew what was coming. I actually liked the chemistry between Kodi and Chole. I thought it actually had a quiet maturity to it.
You are right in saying that they haven't changed anything in the adaptation. The most drastic difference is how they decide to open the film. Nothing necessarily wrong with that...although they did say coming in that they were gonna pull different parts of the book.
I don't think it was mediocre...I think it was the best remake we could have hoped for. Is it as good as the original? No. So good on ya for giving it a chance, but at least you still have that book and the Swedish dvd to watch as many times as ya want.
Thanks for reading sis!
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