Bernard Rose showed with IMMORTAL BELOVED that he's a good director, but this and CANDYMAN show he's flawed at writing. This is deservedly known as one of the great novels of our time, but you wouldn't know it from this movie. Admittedly, it looks breathtaking, and the performers all look their parts quite well. The main problems are when the actors speak, and the way Rose makes this a "Cliffs Notes" version of the novel. We only hit the high spots, and there's no emotional connection to the story at all, plus we miss the humanity of Tolstoy's view towards his characters.
Sophie Marceau may be good in French films, but I wasn't impressed with her in BRAVEHEART, and I'm not impressed with her here; her reading of Anna is too shallow. Sean Bean, for some reason, plays Vronsky like he was playing 006 in GOLDENEYE, and while Mia Kirschner (an excellent actress), as Kitty, tries, she's too modern. James Fox is Karenin, and this is a role he's done so many times he can do it in his sleep, which he does. Alfred Molina is another actor I'm not a big fan of, but as Levin, he gives the only believable performance.
Sophie Marceau may be good in French films, but I wasn't impressed with her in BRAVEHEART, and I'm not impressed with her here; her reading of Anna is too shallow. Sean Bean, for some reason, plays Vronsky like he was playing 006 in GOLDENEYE, and while Mia Kirschner (an excellent actress), as Kitty, tries, she's too modern. James Fox is Karenin, and this is a role he's done so many times he can do it in his sleep, which he does. Alfred Molina is another actor I'm not a big fan of, but as Levin, he gives the only believable performance.