Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Living in Russia, Anna (Sasha Luss) is stuck in an abusive relationship and a mundane daily lifestyle. That is until KGB Agent Alex (Luke Evans) trains her to be one of the most deadly assassins they have. When she gets put on an undercover assignment as a model in Paris, she realizes a life with the KGB might not be what she wants. That’s when she becomes entangled between working with the KGB and the CIA in hopes to gain her freedom.
Rather than creating an action-packed Film, Director and Writer Luc Besson relies more on shocking the audience with multiple back-and-forths in the story than his signature action sequences. These jumps in Storyline do offer twists, however, they become redundant and comedic after the second time. When the handful of action scenes do come, they are entertaining and thrilling. Particularly in one scene where Anna is in a restaurant and her gun isn’t loaded. She then has to rely on her physical strength and objects in sight to complete her mission.
The action scenes and those with heavy amounts of dialogue are engaging to watch because of Luss. In her breakout role, she commands the screen with her mysterious and ever-present performance as Anna who is powerful physically, emotionally and mentally. She works well opposite her talented Cast consisting of Evans, Cillian Murphy and Helen Mirren. Murphy and Evans bring a much needed dimension to their characters, playing the heads of the CIA and KGB respectively, while falling for the strikingly beautiful assassin. And Mirren steals the show with her curt and commanding performance as the sole female high-ranking KGB member.
eOne Films release ANNA Friday, June 21, 2019.
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