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damienkeith
Reviews
The Dresser (2015)
Great story and characters but flat acting from the two leads
I couldn't help but compare this version to the Albert Finney/Tom Courtney version and, though this was good, the older version was much better in my opinion. The story and the characters are compelling and engaging in both versions but, as been stated here before, the older version's portrayals seemed to have been played with more passion. The two leads, especially, were far too subdued in this version. Their voices seem to rarely rise above a conversational level so I never felt the same level of emotional from McKellen and Hopkins that I felt from Finney and Courtney. There is a line in which Sir says to Norman something like, "I'm sick of your friends!" The way Albert Finney almost yells the lines shows that he's heard this line one time too many from Norman.
Also, Norman's entire dialogue from the moment he reads Sir's dedication to his conversation with Madge shows a huge rollercoaster of emotions in the earlier version because Norman's voice rises and falls and his body language is more animated. Tom Courtney was magnificent and totally embodied Norman.
I'm sure it's a minority opinion but I have not been impressed with Anthony Hopkin's acting in a long time. I'm hard-pressed to think of a role in which I didn't see Anthony Hopkins rather than the character. He was better in this role but I don't believe he ever vanished into it the way Albert Finney did. An actor like Gary Oldman is much more chameleonic whether he is Drexel the drug dealer or Stanfield the corrupt DEA agent, we see the character not the actor. Ian McKellen was convincing as Norman but his portrayal was flat compared to Tom Courtney. McKellen is another actor that can embody a role but, I think it was the paring with Hopkins that hindered his portrayal.
Let Me In (2010)
As subtle as a brick to the head
Before seeing Let Me In, I fell in love with Let the Right One In but went to the screening with an open mind. I think both kids in Let Me In did a very good job with the script they were given but, ultimately I didn't feel same bond and empathy with Abby and Owen as I did for Oskar and Eli. Because of the subtlety of the writing and directing, the actors in Let The Right One In were able to give, what I felt were, real and nuanced performances. The relationship in Let the Right One In was sweet whereas Let Me In tried to be but seemed more strained and creepy.
The subtlety in question, or lack thereof, also carried over to both the Abby/Eli transformations as well as how they fed. Eli seemed remorseful that she needed to kill to live whereas Abby seemed unapologetically predatory and animalistic. It didn't help that Let Me In went with the more radical vampire transformation rather than, again, the subtlety of Let the Right One In. I suppose it's associated with Hammer so they felt they had to.
If you are a fan of Let The Right One In I think you owe it to yourself to see the remake to compare for yourself. I would also recommend reading the book to see which of them appeared to capture the spirit of the relationship better. I, personally, believe Let the Right One In more closely displayed the love and connection in Oskar and Eli's relationship.
I believe Let Me In is a good vampire movie but it is no where near the classic that Let The Right One In is primarily because its subtlety allows you to connect better with Eli and Oskar; not so much with Abby and Owen.