Last week, Alliance Films (now eOne) released Anna Karenina, starring Kiera Knightley, on Blu-ray.  The film was nominated for four Academy Awards (cinematography, costume design, music, and production design), and won for costume design.

Those technical nominations (and award) are definitely deserved – the film is worth watching for the visuals and music (composed by Dario Marianelli) alone.  The whole film takes place in and around a theatre, with the sets changing in front of our eyes, and us never forgetting about this stylistic choice.  While it is a little bit strange to watch, it is very interesting and there are a lot of gorgeous designs on screen.  For those interested in set or costume design, or who know the story, this will probably be one you’ll want to check out.  It is a bit long at times at over two hours, but worth seeing for those reasons I mentioned.

The Blu-ray includes the following special features:

• Feature Commentary with Director Joe Wright

• Anna Karenina: An Epic Story About Love

• On Set With Director Joe Wright

• Dressing Anna

• Keira As Anna

• Adapting Tolstoy

• Anna Karenina: Time-Lapse Photography

• Deleted Scenes

Anna Karenina is 130 minutes and rated PG for mature theme.

– Erin V.