Keira Knightley

‘Anna Karenina’ marriages film and stage for tale of adultery

Keira Knightley stars in 'Anna Karenina'
Keira Knightley stars in ‘Anna Karenina’

[rating=3]Starring: Keira Knightley, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jude Law, Domnhall Gleason, Matthew Macfadyen , Kelly Macdonald
Director(s): Joe Wright
Writer(s): Tom Stoppard

Joe Wright’s Anna Karenina is certainly Leo Tolstoy’s classic as you’ve never seen it before. An often breathless conversation between filmic and theatrical language, writer Tom Stoppard’s adaptation literally puts heroine Anna and her Russian cohorts on stage in plain view of all. The message in this work about passion between the classes is a constant reminder that when it comes to decisions of the heart, everyone is watching. Love is a spectator sport that doesn’t always guarantee a victor – though it will always declare a loser.

Read more‘Anna Karenina’ marriages film and stage for tale of adultery

‘Seeking a Friend for the End of the World’ doesn’t die soon enough

 

Keira Knightly and Steve Carell in 'Seeking a Friend for the End of the World'
Keira Knightly and Steve Carell in ‘Seeking a Friend for the End of the World’

It’s another “the end is near” film only this time the object isn’t saving mankind or the planet.  Instead, inSeeking a Friend for the End of the World, the purpose is to see how people would behave knowing that everything on the planet is doomed and doomsday is three weeks hence.

Read more‘Seeking a Friend for the End of the World’ doesn’t die soon enough

‘Bend It like Beckham’ is worth seeing… and seeing again

[rating=3]Starring: Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys-Meyer
Director(s): Gurinder Chadha
Writer(s): Gurinder Chadha, Guljit Bindra, Paul Mayeda Berges

Parminder Nagra and Jonathan Rhys-Meyer in 'Bend It Like Beckham'
Parminder Nagra and Jonathan Rhys-Meyer in ‘Bend It Like Beckham’

Bend It Like Beckham never would’ve been made if it had been pitched to a studio executive at a major Hollywood studio. A story about the obstacles faced by a young Anglo-Indian teen girl who dreams of becoming a professional soccer player would’ve been deemed too specific. Her problems wouldn’t be of interest to anyone outside of her race, class and culture. But Bend It Like Beckham was an international box office phenomenon when it played in theatres, and seeing it again on DVD, reveals why it has such broad audience appeal. In Bend It Like Beckham, audiences of all ages, races and cultures, can see themselves as they attempt to conquer insurmountable obstacles in pursuit of their individual dreams.

Read more‘Bend It like Beckham’ is worth seeing… and seeing again