Comments on: ANNA KARENINA Review + Notes from Q&A with Joe Wright & Keira Knightley

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 21:23:09 +0000

My guess is either someone told her that’s sexy so she’s sticking to that look, or her teeth and lips make it hard for her to close her mouth properly. I don’t mean that in a derisive way; I think she’s beautiful. But I’ve noticed her teeth are uneven (which I like, because she doesn’t look doctored) and protrude a little.

By: Natalie ~ the Coffee and a Book Chick

Natalie ~ the Coffee and a Book Chick — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 18:38:42 +0000

Why does Keira Knightley always do that thing with her mouth where her mouth is never closed? There’s always this gap between her lips, as though it’s intended to be sexy, or whatever. Weird.

On a completely different (yet infinitely more mature) note, I would love to see this film for the set design alone. I really need to read this book at some point, but have to find six months sometime to be able to devote to it…

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 20:48:43 +0000

I think Anna suffers because of her circumstance and the mores of the time. She gets married young (18 or so?) and then falls in love with someone else, something she didn’t plan. Yes, she’s responsible for acting on those feelings, but if she didn’t, she would’ve suffered, too. Nowadays divorce isn’t a big deal but back then her situation must’ve seemed impossible to her. I read the book a long time ago and can’t recall my reaction to it (not sure I even finished it) but this is what I got from the movie.

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 20:42:36 +0000

Knightley said her perception of the book changed between the first time she read it as a teen and subsequent readings as a twentysomething preparing to play Anna. She initially thought Anna was romantic and innocent and everyone else was bad, but later recognized that Anna did some awful, hurtful things.

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 20:33:16 +0000

Oh, yes, it was very dirty work.

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 20:32:01 +0000

Ha! I love the word “tart,” especially when applied to a man.

The staging did keep me at arm’s length at times, making me very aware I was watching a production instead of fooling me into thinking I’m getting a glimpse of real life and genuine emotions. But some of the theatricality is clever eye candy so I went with it for the most part.

By: EIREGO

EIREGO — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 01:56:29 +0000

I read this book a long time ago, but I take issue with Knightly defense of ANNA in the Q&A. How can I not feel for a creature who is suffering? A) she is suffering because of her own doing. and B) Anna is more than a creature, she is a human being with the best of everything who throws it all away for a superficial roll in the hay. Yes, we have all done stupid things for love, but most of us get this type of behavior out of our systems before we stand up in front of all our friends and family to pledge our eternal love for someone. No, I haven’t seen the movie, but in the novel Anna is married with a 4 or 5 year old child. WTF?! Have I become a prude? Maybe this movie is bad timing.

Oh well, probably will miss this one.

BTW: Really liked SKYFALL.

By: Jann

Jann — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:48:05 +0000

Gosh, I loved the novel, although I read it many lives ago. Perhaps I need to revisit it at this stage of my life-semi retired content “middle ager” with grown children, as opposed to a young romantic newlywed (or maybe I wasn’t even married yet).

By: Laura Benedict

Laura Benedict — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:34:02 +0000

Terrific, thoughtful review. Like Jenn, I loathe this novel. I detest Anna and Vronsky. I would only watch it for the pretty dresses. Good on you for doing the dirty work for us!

By: jenn aka the picky girl

jenn aka the picky girl — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:50:10 +0000

Interesting. I abhor this book, but I’ve been curious about the film. I think the staging might actually make me feel even more distant from Anna than I already do, watching a stage through a screen and all that. I’m surprised about the chemistry because Aaron Johnson looks like such an absolute tart in this. I suppose that’s part of the act. I like that he emphasized the playacting so present in that time period, but I’m still not sure this is one I want to watch.