6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.8 |
Beneath Anna Poliatova's striking beauty lies a secret that will unleash her indelible strength and skill to become one of the world's most feared government assassins.
Starring: Sasha Luss, Cillian Murphy, Luke Evans, Helen Mirren, Alexander Petrov (X)Action | 100% |
Thriller | 30% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Some armchair psychoanalyst somewhere may have the makings of a private study of sorts with regard to Luc Besson and Anna. The noted filmmaker has had a string of less than successful films over the past several years, and he’s also relatively recently weathered a series of #metoo- esque accusations, which may all provide some telling subtext for Anna, a film which would seem to offer Besson a refuge of sorts, a “security blanket”, cinematically speaking, where Besson could revisit at least some aspects of one of his better remembered success stories, La Femme Nikita. And in fact had that 1990 smash not been made in the first place, it would have been easy for Besson to have titled this entry La Femme Anna, or perhaps женщина Анна, which is what the Google translate machine informs me is the Russian equivalent of that moniker. Anna is yet another film positing a female assassin recruited into the ranks of (in this case) two spy agencies, with an underlying psychological element being traumas suffered by the title character (portrayed by Sasha Luss). It’s all probably unavoidably reminiscent of not just La Femme Nikita, but a number of other films featuring “damaged” females working as hitwomen (Red Sparrow sprang instantly to my mind, probably because I reviewed it, but there are manifold others that could be cited). Unfortunately, whatever magic Besson brought to his “previous version” of at least some elements of this tale seems to have dissipated, leaving Anna strangely listless and unenergetic.
Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080p Blu-ray.
Anna is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Lionsgate Films with a 2160p transfer in 2.39:1. This is a solid looking 4K presentation, but it may
not reach the top tier of detail and color saturation that some videophiles may be expecting, especially considering a director of Besson's general
flashiness. That said, there are definitely upticks in fine detail levels throughout the presentation, albeit often on fairly mundane items, like the thick
tufted fabric of the coat Olga
frequently wears. Dolby Vision adds some interesting highlights, especially when Besson and cinematographer Thierry Arbogast play with lighting
and/or grading, as in a brief, probably too "on the nose", moment with Anna bathed in red light as she arrives in Paris. Some of the outdoor material
does gain some depth of field, and clarity is generally excellent throughout the presentation. The more naturally lit moments pop with considerable
authority, with a natural looking palette and generally commendable detail levels.
Anna features a generally immersive Dolby Atmos track, one that expectedly kicks into high gear during some of the action set pieces, where a glut of well positioned sound effects surrounds the listener with everything from gunshots to crunching bones. Ambient environmental sounds provide near constant activity in many of the frequent outdoor scenes. Eric Serra's nice sounding score also resides winningly in the surround channels and helps to establish momentum in several key sequences. Dialogue is always rendered cleanly and clearly throughout the track. This may not be the "showiest" Atmos track I've personally reviewed, at least in terms of "over the top" (figuratively and literally) activity, but it provides a consistent array of discrete channelization and an enveloping sense of almost subliminal menace some of the time.
My hunch is you haven't seen any of the many previous films featuring female assassins, not necessarily limited to La Femme Nikita, you may find Anna considerably more engaging than those who have seen at least some of those previous journeys down many of the same plot points. Besson manages to craft a generally brisk entertainment here, and there are at least a couple of very well staged set pieces, but a lot of this film has a kind of tired, rehashed quality that keeps it from totally hitting its perceived bullseye. Technical merits are solid for those considering a purchase, though for me personally I'm not sure the video upgrade here is enough of a knockout to warrant a 4K UHD purchase since the 1080p Blu-ray offers the same Dolby Atmos audio.
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