[7]

Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones) stars as a mysterious teenager raised in the wilderness by her ex-CIA father (Eric Bana) to be a lethal killing machine. Director Joe Wright steps out of his comfort zone (his previous films include Atonement and Pride & Prejudice) to deliver a stylish thriller galvanized by terrific performances from Ronan and Cate Blanchett, whose never been sexier or scarier than she is in this movie. Wright’s staging is impeccable, and the electronic score (by the Chemical Brothers) is an interesting counterpoint to Alwin Kuchler’s beautiful outdoor photography. The first act is the tightest. The second gets a little soft, and the third plays out about how you’d expect it to, but it’s a good ride overall.