Anna Karenina – 7

The novel staged as a series of tableaux. At first I found it corny, like a Broadway musical sans music; but by the time I figured out, more or less, who was who, I had fallen into Joe Wright’s rhythm and had no more complaint. Keira Knightley was quite good, and lovely as usual, but if I hadn’t known from the start that her suicide was coming I don’t know how it would have struck me. The artificial staging created an emotional distance; I watched Anna throw herself under the train (but how did she do it?) as another act in the play, without feeling anything. The attraction between Anna and Vronsky was palpable and credible, but not as mesmerizing as that in Silver Linings Playbook

Silver Linings Playbook – 7.5

Jennifer Lawrence sizzled. Bradley Cooper burned. This film was at its most eloquent when neither spoke but looked into the other’s eyes.  The plot points were goofily absurd, but that was just background for the onscreen chemistry between the two stars, who made you feel their longing – and their craziness.  I felt a little cheated at times – e.g., all the clues pointed to Pat’s continuing Nikki delusion even though, we found out later, he had proclaimed his love for Tiffany a week earlier – but the result was still a slightly euphoric feeling when the lovers finally kissed.