Indie Gems: Byzantium

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Another vampire movie where the leads have more chemistry than the ones in Twilight.
 
 
Eleanor (Saoirse Ronan) seems to be a 16 year old girl who lives with her older sister Clara. (Gemma Arterton) They move around often and after Clara kills a mysterious man, they're soon on the run again. Eleanor and Clara are not human. They're centuries old vampires and Eleanor has reached the point where she is sick of lying about their existence. She's drawn towards a kind but sickly boy, Frankm (Caleb Landry Jones) but what consequences come with Eleanor's secret?
 
I love Saoirse Ronan. I will watch this girl in anything. She's easily one of the best young actresses out there and I believe she'll grown into one of the best of all time. She's perfectly timid and curious here. Even Arterton manages to pull off a good performance, and I usually think she's awful. Byzantium lacks the traits most vampire movies nowadays have (Bearing fangs, sexy/bloody times) and replaces them with things we've read in old stories. (the long thumb nail, whispering prayers before taking a life) Even though prostitution is a big part of this film, it never feels like this is being sold as a vampire sex story.
 
No, Byzantium is a fun little film that is a must see for Ronan fans, and really anyone else that enjoys a film more similar to Let The Right One In and less Twilight.
 
Grade: B+
 
Memorable Quote: "They had told me since infancy that she was dead." - Eleanor (Saoirse Ronan)

Comments

  1. AnonymousNovember 22, 2013 at 8:12 AM

    I really want to see this. I love me some Ronan as well, and Neil Jordan has made some excellent films, so his name sparks my interest immediately.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamNovember 24, 2013 at 6:48 AM

      Their names are a good fit! I hope they work together again.

      Delete
  2. m.brownNovember 22, 2013 at 9:33 AM

    I completely agree that Ronan is an amazing actress, but if be lying if I didn't say that Arterton is so hot, I'd probably pay to watch her in just about anything. Hmm, hopefully that doesn't read add creepy as I think it does...

    Anyway, I'm always down for vampires and/or prostitutes. So this sounds like a winner.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamNovember 24, 2013 at 6:47 AM

      Well, Arterton does have an amazing rack, which is on display quite a bit in this film.

      Delete
  3. s.November 23, 2013 at 1:34 PM

    Glad you liked the film! I really liked the atmosphere of this one - very stylish, somber and it was beautifully shot. Saoirse has got what it takes to be one of the greatest actresses we have nowadays.

    ReplyDelete
  4. asrap virtuosoNovember 28, 2013 at 1:52 AM

    "more similar to Let The Right One In and less Twilight" <--- I'm definitely in. Also glad that it seems more in line with classic and old vampire stories. Kinda miss them.

    ReplyDelete

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