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!