Anna Karenina (2012)Movie Reviews


  • Go Based on 8,399 reviews
    Breakdown:
  • So-so
    Written November 25, 2012

    Stylized and Artificial

    by Caramel6

    We went with high expectations but left disappointed. A lot of effort went into making this movie but the result felt artificial and lifeless. Beautiful settings, beautiful costumes and a beautiful Anna Karenina. Great original novel. Too much art and not enough life in the movie translation of the book. We were surprised that the movie is not showing widely. After seeing the movie the reason became clear.

    • 15 out of 26 found this review helpful.
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  • So-so
    Written November 27, 2012

    Gorgeous but otherwise......

    by altschiller

    If sets, costumes and jewelry are your thing, don't miss it. Otherwise it's turgid, and miscast in it's most important role--Count Vronsky. Jude Law's Karenina may be stiff and formal, but he's kind, Arron Taylor-Johnson is foppish and insipid. Why would she leave her son, her life's love, for a fop?

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written December 7, 2012

    Knightly is Perfect

    by akozlosk

    Kira Knightly "was" Anna in this movie. Her plunge into despair was heartbreaking. The costuming was breathtaking as well, the dresses looked like those I viewed in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written December 10, 2012

    Anna Karenina

    by jeaniel

    Beautiful to look at, wonderful music to listen to, fabulous performances, over the top costumes and sets, and a timeless story combined with relevance in a specific historic time -- what could be better.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written December 9, 2012

    Simply Stunning!!!

    by alicat80

    I've always been a big fan of Keira Knightly and have adored Joe Wright's work since Pride and Prejudice. So, I was so excited to see Anna Karenina! Keira is simply breathtaking in this film and the movie itself is visually stunning. The costumes are also impeccable. I wasn't very familiar with the story. I was a little confused in the beginning but was able to follow the plot. Be prepared for high drama, intense romance, and intrigue. The movie is also very artistic and stylistic. At times, it feels like you're watching a beautiful work of art coming to life or a performance art piece. Jude Law is astonishing and Matthew MacFayden (also a big fan) is great, too! The chemistry between Aaron Johnson and Keira is palpable making the entire movie a deliciously rich romantic tragedy that is simply stunning to watch. I have to admit, the movie was a bit slow at times and I could have had more love scenes; but, overall I'd HIGHLY recommend it!

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written December 17, 2012

    Bravo!

    by niklandia

    I am Russian and I have seen multiple versions of this movie ( I also read the book a million times since Tolstoy is my favorite author). None of the movies had ever touched me as this one did. Director did an amazing job with the theater-like transitions. Because of them all the scenes move really fast and you don't waste any time. Considering that the book is about 600 pages, it really helps. Plus, it keeps you focused on the main characters.
    I was very curious about how British would interpret such a classic piece, and I was not disappointed. As usual, they stayed very close to the story, the details were realistic.
    But the best part of the movie is the acting. Keira is outstanding as always, Jude Law is unbelievable(his best), and Vronsky is the way I imagined him when I was reading the novel.
    The chemistry between Anna and Vronsky is so vivid, it's electrifying. You really feel like you are there!The final touch is the fantastic music.Definitely watching it again.
    Bravo!

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written November 25, 2012

    All the World's A Stage

    by iknowbest

    And Anna Karenina makes good use of that concept. An very beautiful, poetic, and supple rendering of a massive novel. My one qualm is that Knightley, although gorgeous and the stuff that dreams are made of, is perhaps a bit too frosty to be convincing as anything other than headstrong; she conveys stuborness more than hopeless love.

    Jude Law is wonderful as the man who gives every opportunity for redemption, although it is hard to believe that Jude Law is the least sexy man in the room.

    The music is just right; not intrusive, and not tear-jerking.

    All in all this is one of the most mature, well developed films I have seen in a while.

    • 6 out of 9 found this review helpful.
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  • Go
    Written November 25, 2012

    Not Your Czar's Anna

    by celluloidsweetie

    For those who have been weaned on more traditional cinematic treatments of the Tolstoy tale, this new version may startle, annoy, thrill or elicit a combination of all of these. Joe Wright has liberated the story from the confines of opulent interiors and set it in a theater, with much of the action being literally "played out" on a stage. Yet, opulent costumes and jewelry are fabulously in view, underscoring the grandeur that was imperial Russia. Keira Knightley as Anna delivers a glamorous and complex performance; Jude Law is the very model of the bespectacled, stodgy, dutiful and cuckolded Karenin, right down to his tight lips and receding hairline. With his sculpted facial features, arresting blue eyes and almost flippant confidence, Aaron Johnson is note-perfect as Anna's lover Count Vronsky. Visually beautiful, stylish and stylized (and brave enough to reveal more of the Levin character), "Anna" is a must-see. Long, but never dull.

    • 5 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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  • So-so
    Written December 11, 2012

    Weird Format - Hard to Follow

    by libdev

    I did not care for the format of the movie as a performance within a performance. It made it confusing and I often could not tell whether it was really happening or just in the imagination of the characters. Kiera Knightly was outstanding as was Jude Law. The costumes were amazing! I liked it, but some parts were slow and I was a bit confused with the format.

    • 15 out of 27 found this review helpful.
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  • No
    Written November 25, 2012

    Ugh

    by fannn

    Really difficult to sit through. Plodding and wandering. Took awhile to figure out the supporting characters. Keira Knightly is lovely to look at but there is no chemistry or passion or anything to grab onto with her lover. The story is so convoluted that I was tempted to walk out after 30 min., but i stuck it out.

    • 7 out of 11 found this review helpful.
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  • Oh No!
    Written November 20, 2012

    long, boring and no chemistry

    by

    The movie is too long, weirdly shot and quite boring. The actors have absolutely no chemistry together. it's supposed to be a tumlultuos love affair. It's not even luke warm! Wouldn't waste my time. Sorry Keira, i love you, but this one is a bust!

    • 8 out of 13 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written November 18, 2012

    Terrifically Romantic!

    by pedsarq

    Anna Karenina remains one of the great tragic stories of all time. This new retelling mixes elements of the stage with classic Hollywood moviemaking. Let me explain. There are many scenes that either start or end on a theater stage, as if to create a limited window into the action or drama that's unfolding. There are even scenes that are highly choreographed where all of the characters are doing routine movements in unison. It works well, for the most part, and elevates the artistry of the scenes. There were moments when I was tired of the gimmick and didn't care for it, but it was well established and added a certain flair that I appreciated overall. Aside from this, it's essentially faithful to the Tolstoy novel and that's not a bad thing at all. Keira Knightley is terrific!

    • 9 out of 15 found this review helpful.
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  • Oh No!
    Written December 3, 2012

    Anna Kareninna

    by lwmsmd58

    Really disappointing for Knightley fans. The juxtapostion of stage and film was distracting and made a compelling story seem like a bad dream. The period effects were wasted on the unreal, bizarre presentation. There was no real chemistry between Anna and Vronsky, either. I almost fell asleep during the afternoon matinee and found myself checking my watch as to when it would end.

    • 7 out of 11 found this review helpful.
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  • So-so
    Written December 9, 2012

    Anna Karenina

    by sjmflm

    Despite beautiful actors and costumes, this was a big disappointment. Way too artsy, was hoping for something more like Dr. Zhivago setting. Husband left midway through - couldn't take it. If you have this as a book assignment and aren't up to reading such a big book or just want to see the costumes or Kiera Knightly, go; otherwise, save your money.

    • 4 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written December 16, 2012

    Absolutely Breathtaking!

    by cmacooks

    My mother and I went to see this film.. What a wonderful experience to be able to see such a beautiful piece together. The scenery, the costumes, the staging; all were magnificent, to say the least. Keira Knightly is just gorgeous, and her portrayal of Anna was perfect. Jude Law was outstading as the controlling husband, cuckolded, then becoming vindictive. There was a bit of poetic licence with regard to the Count's role, but I don't think Tolstoy would have minded the slight tweak. Accurate, however, were the references to the class differences of the time. All in all, Anna Karenina was the type of film I adore; an escape from the every day.

    • 4 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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Anna Karenina (2012) Movie Reviews + Ratings

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LoveLustLine Someone retweeted my Anna Karenina post. I was watching the movie with Keira Knightley as Anna not the tv show from Ch.7!!!!!!

8 days ago.

Catalysis_Comms #FactOfTheDay Anna Karenina is over 800 pages long, but it was originally published in serialized form. #BookClub

8 days ago.

SaraPMeneses There was something terrible and cruel about her charm #annakarenina #latenightreading

8 days ago.

kirby_mcc Why do they have British accents in "Anna Karenina?" I thought it was set in Russia

8 days ago.

mariachuchus it's a bit late but anna karenina was so good omg

8 days ago.

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Cast Interviews Exclusive Cast Interview Keira Knightley talks about her "tricky" character, Jude Law on his passive-aggressive role and Joe Wright on filming the movie on a stage. More Films on Fandango's Award Watch A sneak peek at Hollywood's race to the Oscars!