filed under Film | Foreigners
When All You Want Is To Fit In
10:45AM ON
02/07/2009
BY
Beth Comery
The tween years are so difficult, but Oskar and Eli have a special set of challenges. The Avon is holding its own vampire weekend with midnight-ish showings of the Swedish movie Let the Right One In. (If that sounds familiar, the title is derived from a Morrissey song, the screenwriter being a fan.) The curious white poodle that shows up in an early scene is the first indication that visually, this is going to be an interesting show. In fact, there are at least 5 or 6 scenes of such disturbing originality that the audience (okay, me) gasped out loud. In fact, do not watch the trailer for the movie — it gives away too many surprises. Film school students will have a field day with the symbolism and layers of meaning in this one. (How is this not nominated for one single Academy Award?) All I can say is — best creepy blond kid since The Bad Seed. And one last thing, in that nanosecond of frontal nudity, did I see what I think I saw? My companion did not see what I saw. A simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ will do. No spoilers please. [The New York Times]
11:30pm Saturday, $9.25, 114 minutes, Avon Cinema, 260 Thayer Street
February 7th, 2009 at 11:48AM
Chris Curley Says:
What did you think you saw? I think I saw it, but maybe I didn’t see what you think you saw.
But I think I saw it.
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February 7th, 2009 at 11:50AM
Chris Curley Says:
I still don’t know how to parse it. Great movie though.
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February 7th, 2009 at 12:13PM
matthew lawrence Says:
Was the screening, uh, full of overenthusiastic Brown students waving at each other from eight rows apart, though? Because that always makes me hate everything I see at the Avon…
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February 7th, 2009 at 12:53PM
Beth Comery Says:
To CC: a scar? I can say that much. No one sitting through that movie is going to remember this sentence, or this blog, by that point in the story.
To Matthew. Actually there were only about 20 or 30 people in attendance, which is why I thought maybe I’d get the word out. And everyone was utterly silent in rapt attention — no cell phones, no coughing, no talking, no eating — just a smattering of nervous laughter in all the right places (and me going “no way” from time to time). It was an excellent audience. I give it five stars.
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February 7th, 2009 at 1:16PM
Canisiuschris Says:
You did indeed see what you think you saw. I wasn’t really able to make sense of it until I read the novel. I actually like the film’s handling better which I think is a rarity for me. Great film.
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February 7th, 2009 at 2:45PM
j Says:
yes, you saw what you think you saw.. (it’s based on a book and they cut a huge part out… uh that part…. read the wikipedia on it..)
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February 7th, 2009 at 3:05PM
Vannisho Says:
Yes, you saw ELIAS.
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February 7th, 2009 at 5:20PM
Beth Comery Says:
Okay, thanks. It’s just that it went by so fast, and my mind was pretty much blown by then. Well, that gives me more to think about.
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February 7th, 2009 at 5:22PM
Chris Curley Says:
@J Thanks. That clears it up, all right.
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February 7th, 2009 at 9:01PM
Jen D Says:
Well that will teach me to blink during a movie. And I agree, a five-star audience - how refreshing!
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February 9th, 2009 at 3:32PM
Let The White One Win | Providence Daily Dose Says:
[...] brother’s getting into Swedish vampire movies and I’m still running around in circles getting groped by strangers… why aren’t I [...]
April 25th, 2009 at 3:42PM
Tweener Vampires Don’t Suck As Much As Zac Effron | Providence Daily Dose Says:
[...] for the Avon — this movie needed to be seen by tons more people than had a chance this winter. (I already went on and on about this one.) Ambiguous Swedish youngsters negotiate the perils of puberty while coming to terms [...]