Close Reading #3

“Infidelity, Grandly Staged” by A. O. Scott (http://movies.nytimes.com/2012/11/16/movies/anna-karenina-from-by-joe-wright-with-keira-knightley.html?ref=movies)

            In his review of the film, “Anna Karenina”, A. O. Scott portrays the movie to be a fantastic depiction of the original novel and an engaging watch. This is done through his use of diction, detail, and figurative language.  

            Scott shows the reader how captivating and well-made the film is through his word choice. For example in the second paragraph he says, “It is risky and ambitious enough to count as an act of artistic hubris, and confident enough to triumph on its own slightly — wonderfully — crazy terms”. By incorporating the words “risky”, “ambitious”, and “crazy”, Scott introduces the reader to how interesting and engaging the film is. He also shows that the film is well done by including that the director’s means were “wonderfully” crazy. Scott’s continued use of diction is also seen in the fourth paragraph when he refers to the director’s goal as his “brilliant gamble”. By calling it this, he is further expressing his opinion of the film as being an enthralling interpretation of the original novel. This is again seen in the fifth paragraph when Scott describes the performances within the film as “fresh, energetic and alive”. By using these words, he makes the film seem more captivating to the audience.

            The details included by Scott in his review also contribute to his portrayal of the film as being a great interpretation of the book and an engaging movie to watch. For example, after going into an in-depth description of how the director’s previous films have been mediocre interpretations of the novels upon which they were based, Scott says, “Mr. Wright’s “Anna Karenina” is different” (paragraph 3). By including background on the below-par standards of Wright’s “book to movie” directing history, the contrast between works gained meaning and showed the reader how good of a depiction of the novel “Anna Karenina” is.

            Scott also used strong figurative language to emphasize the engaging qualities of the film. For example in the sixth paragraph he says, “The camera hurtles through the scenery as if in hungry pursuit; the lush colors of the upholstery and the costumes pulsate with feeling; the music (by Dario Marianelli) howls and sighs…”. These metaphorical comparisons show the reader that the mechanics of the film make for an exciting experience. By saying that the camera “hurtles…in hungry pursuit”, he makes it seem as though the audience finds themselves to be brought into the story because of it. His comment on the colors of the costumes as “pulsating” also connects the audience to the movie by portraying it as if the vibrancy of the colors can actually be felt. Scott does this again later in the same paragraph when he says, “Mr. Wright turns a sweeping epic into a frantic and sublime opera”. By comparing the movie to a “sublime opera”, he portrays it to be a captivating film.

            Throughout the review, Scott makes good use of his diction, detail, and figurative language to express his feelings about the film. He repeatedly uses his words to show his readers how engaging “Anna Karenina” is, and how it is a sensational interpretation of the original novel.