Hanna (2011)

If you look at the number of action movies that have a female protagonist and compare it to the number of action movies starring men you will notice that there are not that many female action heroes. With Alien James Cameron showed that women can be vulnerable, but at the same time are able to handle guns and fight evil. This meant more females in these type of roles, but if you´d ask me to name female action stars I´d probably be done pretty quickly. The only woman I would be able to mention is Angelina Jolie who has shown she can kick ass with the Tomb Raider movies, Salt and Wanted.

Hanna (played by Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones)) the next action hero. She´s only 16, but has been raised in solitude in the north of Finland by her father (Eric Bana). They live in a desolated area where no other people are around and they survive by hunting. Her father is constantly testing Hanna to see if she´s able to defend herself. All her knowledge comes from her father and an encyclopedia. She has never heard any music and has had no contact with anyone except her father. It´s no surprise that there is a moment where she starts to get curious about the world and wants to discover it. Her father helps her to get in contact with the outside world. Her first experience isn´t a positive one and it´s the start of a journey through Europe filled with suspense and action. Continue reading

The Ghost Writer (2010)

The life of a ghost writer (someone who writes books, speeches or lyrics for others) isn’t easy. No one is allowed to know that you are responsible for something and you’ll never get any respect from the readers, someone else will however. The only thing you’ll get is a bag of money and you will have to start looking for your next job. Ewan McGregor (whose character doesn’t have a name and is called The Ghost in the credits) is such a writer and has been asked to write the memoirs of English prime minster Robert Lang (Pierce Brosnan). He has a very short time to finish it. Lang already had a ghost writer, but he was found dead and it’s up to The Ghost to finish the book. He is caught up in a political web when Lang is mentioned in an international case about the treatment of some prisoners. The Ghost starts searching for some answers. Continue reading