I got a little “movied out,” and fell behind on my Oscar nominee watching.
Yesterday, I tackled “Anna Karenina.” Loved One was in no mood to watch any more movies with me. Duckie is nursing a twisted knee, so she elevated her leg and watched with me OnDemand. I know, I know, my movie fatigue is showing through my lead.
I read Anna Karenina way back in college. Such a good, good book. So good, I wished to never spoil my mind’s version of all the characters. If you feel that way, put your fears aside, Jude Law gives me a sexier, broodier version of Alexei Vronsky than my 19 year-old college mind could possibly render.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPGLRO3fZnQ
Most of the movie takes place in a theatre: on stage, in the audience, and behind the scenes. A little distracting at first, but all-in-all, I loved the technique. Back-stage provided insight into back-story and thought. The scenes from the audience represented lives being observed. When I think about the themes of Tolstoy’s novel: love, pursued, lost, found, unrequited; the price of our decision; the impact social convention has on our lives; the meaning of life, Joe Wright‘s film-making decisions are superb.
Superfluous, bourgeois, and bourgeoisie are all words I learned in my Russian Literature class way back when. “Anna Karenina” brings definition to these words through set, costume, and moving main actors through a frozen scene. All this came through even on the small screen. The movie is as thought-provoking as the book, which says a lot from this book-worm who almost always feels the movie falls short.
I’m not sure what category “Anna Karenina” should win, but it surely is a winner.
As an aside: You’ll also see Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) from “Downton Abby,” and Bill Weasley (Domhnall Gleeson) from the “Harry Potter” movies.
Note: I have little to note about Keira Knightley. I’m sure she was superb, as she always is. It’s just that my eyes stayed glued to Jude Law. (Sigh)
Related articles
- Theatrical take on ‘Anna Karenina’ plays at Film at Erie Art Museum (goerie.com)
- Production gets in the way of acting in Joe Wright’s Anna Karenina (thehistorylady.wordpress.com)
- Who is Domhnall Gleeson? The Harry Potter star on appearing in Anna Karenina (metro.co.uk)