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Here's a look at the period piece I saw this week...

Anna Karenina
Starring: Keira Knightly, Jude Law, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Synopsis: Leo Tolstoy, who wrote the novel version of “Anna Karenina,” opened that work with the famous line “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” While we could quibble about the first half of that line, the second half is certainly born out by the events of the novel and film. Joe Wright has a gift for period dramas — having scored with “Pride and Prejudice” and “Atonement,” both of which starred Keira Knightly. With “Anna Karenina,” which against teams Wright and Knightly, it doesn’t all work. There are some curious decisions made in terms of production that sort of take you out of the moment. That doesn’t help with a dense production, especially for those that aren’t familiar with the novel. This isn’t a light-hearted or happy story. Tolstoy didn’t intend for it to be, and the script from Tom Stoppard holds true to that idea. But, additionally, Wright makes some interesting decisions as a director that makes it even more difficult to follow the narrative. Wright scored with his period dramas before moving on to more modern films with “The Soloist” and “Hanna.” In returning to this genre, he makes some stylistic choices that give the film a surrealist feel. But that combined with the layered narrative that’s condensed to fit an average run time makes the film a tough sell for audiences. Those that love these creative interpretations or love the story will likely be pleased, but the casual viewer is likely to be frustrated. The film seems to drag at times and it is hard to understand what is happening at times. What adds to the frustration is the motif doesn’t carry through the whole film. While some sequences are done as set pieces, other sequences move from moment to moment like a stage play. That makes it a bit awkward as a production. It’s clear, when watching the film, what Wright and his team intends, but it just doesn’t quite work. The film’s look is beautiful — with a number of nice costumes, set pieces and production designs. The film also features a number of quality performances — including from Knightly and an under rated performance from Law. That helps to add to the presentation, but can’t overcome the confused method of delivery. “Anna Karenina” is a beautifully made film but it’s depressing and sometimes hard to follow. It’s not a complete film and fails to achieve its lofty expectations.
Rating: R for some sexuality and violence. Enter with caution.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:

December 14 — "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"

December 19 — "Zero Dark Thirty," "The Guilt Trip"

December 21 — "This Is 40," "Jack Reacher," "The Impossible," "Monsters, Inc. 3D," "Cirque de Soleil: World's Apart"

December 25 — "Django Unchained," "Les Miserables," "Parental Guidance"