Anna Karenina

And when you are one of the characters in Joe Wright's Anna Karenina - you probably should. But apart from ridiculous tagline "You cannot ask 'why' about love" the actual movie has many more - and much more serious - problems. I generally like Joe Wright's films - in fact he made only one movie I despise - The Soloist. His Atonement and Hanna were in my top 15 of the respective years they were released in and I thought his Pride and Prejudice was very skillful and heartfelt adaptation of the famous novel. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about his Anna Karenina.

Keira Knightley shines in the first trailer for Joe Wright's Anna Karenina

While the recently released poster for the movie is a complete eye sore, the first trailer is just beautiful - Joe Wright is one of my favorite directors, despite being responsible for awful The Soloist. Under his supervision Keira Knightley always shines and she delivered her finest work to date in his Golden Globe winning Atonement. Though she also managed to create work so awful in last year's A Dangerous Method it made me want to poke my eyes out just not to see it anymore, she really looks impressive here and as for now she seems a lock for Best Actress nomination.

Scene of the Week: Atonement

Atonement

directed by Joe Wright

The scene: In a culmination to Briony's atonement she visits her sister, Cee and her boyfriend Robbie, whom she falsely accused of rape many years ago. Briony talks to Cee and Robbie passes her by, without recognizing her. Briony looks over to another room and sees disheveled sheets on the bed, suggesting passion between Cee and Robbie, Briony will never know because of the set of events she put in motion and the consequences for her conscience. After Robbie realizes who she is he yells at her asking her if she realizes what war is and what horrors he saw there, all because of what she did. As he launches on her in fury, Cee comes between them and gently asks Robbie to come back to her, bringing him right into state of peace just by her own proximity. Shocked and scared Briony gazes through window and sees old, lonely woman. Her own future.

Hanna

(111 min, 2011)
Director: Joe Wright
Writers: Seth Lochhead (screenplay), David Farr (screenplay)
Stars: Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett and Eric Bana
 

The princess and the wolf.

A 16-year-old Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) who was raised by her father (Eric Bana) to be the perfect assassin is dispatched on a mission across Europe, tracked by a ruthless intelligence agent (Cate Blanchett) and her operatives.

Joe Wright is quickly becoming one of my favorite directors – he made splendid “Atonement”, very good “Pride and Prejudice” and now his unique style shines in “Hanna” - blend of classic fairy tale and modern action thriller. The movie has countless allusions to brothers Grimm' fairy tales and it circles around Hanna, girl who is on a quest to track down her mother's kiler – Marissa.

Hanna has been kept from people and civilization for her entire life by her father, who trained her, taught her and raised her after her mother was killed. Hanna spent her days in wilderness, ruthless cold, surrounded by nature. The movie shows us Hanna as she hunts the deer, in the opening sequence. When Hanna shoots it with the arrow she says “I just missed your heart” showing sadness for not letting the animal die quickly. Hanna's kindness is also shown when she plays with animals and when she takes care of her father. She embodies both the child and ruthless killer. Hanna is played by amazing Saoirse Ronan, who always shines on screen – her unusual beauty – long blonde her and big blue eyes fit with our perception of fairytale princess. But Hanna can kill – quickly, mercilessly, without guilt, without hesitation.

On her trip through various countries Hanna befriends spoiled girl her age, Sophie. Sophie teaches her the way of ordinary world and Hanna fascinates her with her mysterious attitude. In a superb sequence in the container park, where men sent to get Hanna try to kill her, Sophie follows her and witnesses Hanna fighting them all at once, with almost superhuman skills. When Hanna notices her she jumps in front of Sophie, like a lioness protecting her young. The juxtaposition of Ronan's looks with her dangerous and deadly skills creates amazing impression throughout the film.

Atonement

(123 min, 2007)
Plot: Fledgling writer Briony Tallis, as a 13-year-old, irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit. Based on the British romance novel by Ian McEwan.
Director: Joe Wright
Writers: Ian McEwan (novel), Christopher Hampton (screenplay)
Stars: Keira Knightley, James McAvoy and Brenda Blethyn
 

Come Back

"Love seeketh not itself to please, nor for itself hath any care, but for another gives its ease, and builds a Heaven in Hell's despair."

- William Blake

War. The most devastating force, shredding any source of hope to pieces, slaughtering, bathing the surroundings in blood from the beginning of the world. Where innocent die, where all that is good vanishes, where bravery and heroism are nothing comparing to destruction and havoc left behind.

Love. The emotion that builds the importance, filled with passion, lust, the feeling that has been pushing people towards the most extreme actions from the beginning of our race. The force that inspires the best and also the worst in people.

„Atonement” is one of the most devastating movies ever made. Not only because war abolishes love and leaves nothing but guilt and crashing pain behind, but also because viewer's emotions are cruelly treated by the story, by the director and most of all by the construction of the film.
The movie has 3 main characters – Cecilia, young, beautiful, rich girl, Robbie poor but ambitious man in love with her and Briony, Cecilia's sister, gifted storyteller and a girl of amazing imagination. A chain of coincidences, badly misinterpreted events and Briony's young age and lack of experience leads to the separation of Cecilia and Robbie, right after they both realize they love each other. Crime, prison and war enter. Briony's accusation, as the girl gains perspective slips farther and farther away from the truth, as young lovers separation keeps them distant. Cecilia waits for Robbie, Robbie waits for war to end and Briony waits for atonement and absolution, sadly, the latter is not destined to be granted to her.