This movie has some beautiful aspects to it, such that I believe it aptly deserves the title of a work of art. It is a different movie-experience in that Joe Wright filmed parts of it as a stage play. Combined with the dramatic romantic and tragic flair of the plot, and the aesthetic beauty of the costumes and backdrop, this movie is visually entertaining. I did not find the transitions between stage-play scenes to be distracting; instead, I found them to create a unique, bold, and captivating experience. I particularly found the steeplechase scene and the Moscow-theater scene to be compelling, stunning, and magical.
Much has been written about the miscasting of the actors. I had just finished reading the novel prior to seeing the movie, and I was greatly disappointed in the choice of Keira Knightley as Anna. Tolstoy's Anna is full-bodied, voluptuous, round, and mature; Keira Knightley, while a stunning beauty, needs to drink a few beers and eat some stew to put on some weight, and she is too young to have played the role of an older woman. There should have been a greater age discrepancy between Anna and Vronsky; instead, with the casting of Knightley and Taylor-Johnson, they seemed like two young, giddy, contemporaries. Tolstoy often describes Vronsky as being in awe of the aristocratic Anna and he repeatedly describes Vronsky as "obedient" to Anna. This movie never captures the true essence of the lovers' relationship, due to the miscasting of the lead roles. Unfortunately, as a tragic love story, the movie fails.
Finally, even with the miscasting, Wright should have brought us more scenes of the relationship between Anna and Vronsky, so as to develop the characters such that you cared about them. When reading Tolstoy's novel, I cried at points; but I did not feel moved by Wright's portrayal of the novel.
Much has been written about the miscasting of the actors. I had just finished reading the novel prior to seeing the movie, and I was greatly disappointed in the choice of Keira Knightley as Anna. Tolstoy's Anna is full-bodied, voluptuous, round, and mature; Keira Knightley, while a stunning beauty, needs to drink a few beers and eat some stew to put on some weight, and she is too young to have played the role of an older woman. There should have been a greater age discrepancy between Anna and Vronsky; instead, with the casting of Knightley and Taylor-Johnson, they seemed like two young, giddy, contemporaries. Tolstoy often describes Vronsky as being in awe of the aristocratic Anna and he repeatedly describes Vronsky as "obedient" to Anna. This movie never captures the true essence of the lovers' relationship, due to the miscasting of the lead roles. Unfortunately, as a tragic love story, the movie fails.
Finally, even with the miscasting, Wright should have brought us more scenes of the relationship between Anna and Vronsky, so as to develop the characters such that you cared about them. When reading Tolstoy's novel, I cried at points; but I did not feel moved by Wright's portrayal of the novel.