I like when a classic book is being made into a movie because it gives me the chance to read the book before the film came out. For those who have seen the book of 'Anna Karenina' will know that it is a really long book and it took me a couple of months to read it. Leo Tolstoy has written a very detailed account of the Russian aristocracy in the late 19th century. Most of it is not necessary to the plot but I found it interesting all the detail about society and the politics of the time. The main story is much like many written at the time of a woman who falls in love but the constraints of society mean she cannot be with the man she loves.
We have seen a story like this done so many times before. It is a typical love story in a period setting. So Joe Wright has done the clever thing by making the film look different to what you normally expect. Most of the film takes place within a theatrical setting and the actors move through it like they are in a play. I imagine that this could seem strange to people and may take some time to get used to, but for me I thought it was brilliant. Joe loves his long, one take camera moves so this film is full of them. Characters will move through various sets as they change from one scene to another. I thought it looked amazing. The set design is a work of art and the way it moves just takes it to a new level. The way the actors more through these sets is stunning as well. It looks so carefully choreographed and looks like they are dancing. Writer Tom Stoppard has nicely condensed Leo Tolstoy's story into its basic elements. This means it does not feel long winded like the book did. You really feel sorry for Anna as she is not only subject to the constraints of society but religion as well in wanting to be with the man she loves. While she does elicit sympathy on that level, I did have a problem with her relationship with her son. Anna professes that she can not get a divorce from her husband because it would mean not seeing her son anymore. But to me she hardly sees her son much anyway. I know there is the motherly love instinct in place but you get the impression that much like many rich people they rely mostly on a nanny (or in this case a governess) to raise their child.
There is something about Keira Knightley that she loves period film. Keira does give an excellent performance here as the woman tormented by the men in her life. You do feel sympathy for her character and the way she is treated by society. Aaron Taylor-Johnson makes an excellent Vronsky. Aaron gives him the right amount of arrogance and charm. Jude Law gives the correct degree of coldness to Karenin. We can see why Anna does not love him and how he is married to his work and not Anna. I also liked Domhnall Gleeson as Levin. I thought Domhnall was excellent as this naïve, and hopeless romantic who loves the rural life.
Not the conventional period romantic drama that you might expect. This takes the genre to a whole new level and makes it a hard act to follow.
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