Anna Karenina

ANNA KARENINA (12)

D: Joe Wright

Universal/StudioCanal/Working Title (Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner & Paul Webster)

UK/USA 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 2012

130 mins

Drama/Romance/Historical

W: Tom Stoppard [based on the novel by Leo Tolstoy]

DP: Seamus McGarvey

Ed: Melanie Ann Oliver

Mus: Dario Marianelli

PD: Sarah Greenwood

Cos: Jacqueline Durran

Keira Knightley (Anna Karenina), Jude Law (Count Alexei Karenin), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Count Alexei Vronsky), Matthew McFadyen (Prince Stepan Arkadyevich), Kelly MacDonald (Darya Oblonskaya), Alicia Vikander (Ekaterina Alexandrovna)

Firstly, I have to pre-empt this review by saying this film just wasn't for me. I don't like costume dramas, I'm not a huge fan of Keira Knightley, and I've never read Leo Tolstoy's original novel, so this is based on my personal taste and would bear no relevance to those who do like this genre.

The plot follows the titular aristocratic princess, who embarks on an affair during the days of the Russian Empire in the 1870's. For me, that brief synopsis is sufficient. 

I really didn't like this film. It smacked of more Oscar bait from a director who has churned a career out of it.

I will admit that it all looks beautiful, with some stunning costumes, sets, cinematography and a fine music score. I'm sure it's faithful to the source material as well. I just didn't care for the story at all. It wasn't for me.

5/10