A dangerous method

So I've spoke before on my dislike for Keira Knightley, and her general one-dimensional acting qualities. But in the last two films I've seen her in- 'Anna Karenina' and this, she has actually been a really interesting and compelling character.

I dont think her character, Sabina, was an easy one to play, considering the sensitive nature of her illness and the effect it is having on her adult life. At the start of the film, she was sufficiently insane, but grew out of that well and into a likable but still visibly unstable female lead. Maybe Knightley just suits foreign parts? Either way I liked her in this and as the tortured lover Anna.

I found the relationship between Jung and Freud interesting to watch, and well played by both Michael Fassbender and Viggo Mortensen. They seemed to have the appropriate professional relationship at the start of the film and grew into suitable competitiors, both displaying the characters they had been assigned- particularly in Mortensens case with Sigmund Freud. As with the case of Sabina, I think that Freud would be a very hard character to play, given his views on the human psyche and his addiction to cocaine- although the film does not touch upon this aspect of the man I believe it would change the character on a whole. 

Fassbender gives an interesting performance of Jung, showing the professionalism within his character but at the same time the flaw, in falling for the patient. I've only ever seen this actor in 'Shame', where he plays a much different character, but I think it shows  that he is a versatile actor and a bloody high quality one at that.

I'm struggling to find the words to describe this film if I'm honest, mainly because I think it was so character based that they are the only things I can comment on- all in all I thought it was a good watch with an interesting story, but I'm not going to put it  up there in a 'Must Buy DVD' (post to come). It might be worth sticking on Lovefilm, but not worth paying more than £10 on.

Anna Karenina

SPOILER ALERT

So it's fairly common knowledge that I don't like Keira Knightley. In Atonement, Pirates of the Carribean, Never Let Me Go and Pride and Prejudice, I thought she played exactly the same soulless, cold, moaning bitch. I also have a strong suspicion that that is exactly what she's like in real life- similarly to Hugh Grant, he just plays himself in most films- a blithering idiot who is insecure and struggling with his love life. Anyway, Knightley actually gave a very convincing and heartfelt performance in this film. I genuinely felt for her predicament, which is something I often find hard to do as I feel she doesn't connect with the character's herself, making it hard for the viewer to identify with her. As I said though, not the case in this film! (As well as A Dangerous Method... review to come) I genuinely felt the pain she was going through, and understood her point of view, particularly in the embarrassment she was feeling about Vronsky's very public attraction to her.

While I'm on the subject of that awkward situation, I thought it was displayed quite appropriately all the way through the film, both when he was pursuing her and when they were having an affair... even more so when she had ran away with him. The part I did not believe is the sex scene, when she had a go at him for murdering her marriage... who the fuck says murderer when they're having fun. It was unbelievable, a bit weird, and hilarious... which is not what I think the writers/director were aiming for. But no apart from that I thought the relationship between the two was very convincing, particularly on Aaron Taylor-Johnson's part. I've been following him for a while now, since indie Channel 4 show 'Almost Famous', through 'Angus Thong's and Perfect Snogging', and of course, 'Nowhere Boy'. To be honest, when I heard he was playing this part, I wasn't really hopeful for his performance, as all his previous roles had been in younger, student roles. But no I was impressed! He seems to have matured since the last time I saw him, playing John Lennon. I did think he was believable and in tune with his character though... plus I'm a little bit in love with him.

The character I did feel sorry for was Karenin! He seemed really nice and loving towards his wife, and here he was getting treated like shit! I don't blame him in the slightest for fighting for her, but to be honest I'd have given up on her a long time before he did, although fair enough to him for trying to save his marriage! Jude Law was good in this role too, I was shocked when he lashed out at Vromsky, because of his character in the rest of the film being quite quiet and reserved, but I was impressed by him! Go for it Karenin.

The subsidiary characters were also impressive, providing the film with colour and making it not all about the 3 protagonists. I liked Oblonsky and Dolly, I thought they were funny and loving people. I did feel sorry for Oblonsky's wife as well, but you've got to give her credit for the amount of commitment she has to her family really haven't you.

Another aspect of the film I found interesting was the set choice- Karenin and Anna live in a theatre, which I thought really improved the standard of cinematography, as well as making some of the transitions more interesting to watch and improved the film, in terms of characters interacting with each other- as opposed to seeing hours and hours of travelling. 

Towards the end of the film, I thought Anna's death was completely obvious. She just couldn't cope with the strain of it all, being away from her son, living alone with Vronsky, being an outcast in a society where she used to be one of the inner circle. I didn't see the cause of death coming, although my friend Hollie did, so that must just have been me!