By Rodrigo Valverde/reporter
Woman in Gold may fly under the radar and not get the praise it deserves, but it is a quite enjoyable film that everyone should see.
In his directorial debut, Simon Curtis brings viewers the fascinating story of Holocaust survivor Maria Altmann and her fight against the Austrian government to reclaim the iconic Gustav Klimt painting of her aunt, “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I,” which the Nazis stole from her family as World War II began.
Photo courtesy The Weinstein Company
Helen Mirren is exceptional in all her work, and this performance is no different. She plays the title character Maria, who has a series of struggles in the film, and her performance engages viewers from the start. The audience feels every emotion Maria feels from the connection the character establishes early on.
Further emphasizing the connection is a standout performance by Tatiana Maslany, who plays a young Maria in flashback scenes. The tension and sorrow of her grueling past are demonstrated flawlessly.
Ryan Reynolds shows a dramatic side viewers aren’t always used to seeing. Though a number of actors could have played this role, Reynolds does solid work playing Maria’s lawyer Randy Schoenberg, who despite selfish motives at the beginning, quickly becomes a redeemable character worth rooting for. He works well off of Mirren.
The minor characters played by Daniel Bruhl and Katie Holmes give strong support and add to the experience.
This movie also excels in cinematography, especially during the scenes in Austria both in the past and present.
While the film gets a little repetitive during the flashbacks and feels a little predictable toward the finale even for those who don’t know the story, this movie is a gem.
