🎞️ Movie Overview
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Title: Anna
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Release Date: June 21, 2019 (USA), July 10, 2019 (France)
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Genre: Action-Thriller / Spy
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Director: Luc Besson
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Cast:
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Sasha Luss (Anna Poliatova)
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Helen Mirren (Olga)
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Luke Evans (Alex Tchenkov)
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Cillian Murphy (Lenny Miller)
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Where to Watch: Streaming on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, MovieSphere+; Blu‑ray available
1. Plot Summary
Anna Poliatova is a stunning yet troubled young Russian recruited by the KGB after escaping an abusive relationship. Trained as an elite assassin, she adopts a glamorous life as a Paris model to mask her covert operations. As her five-year service nears its end, Anna becomes a double agent, playing both the KGB and CIA to secure her freedom. With shifting allegiances and layered identities, she orchestrates a daring plan to survive — but can she truly slip away from her deadly past?
2. Notable Elements
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Sasha Luss’s duality: Her transformation from cold façade to lethal precision provides a compelling, layered portrayal of Anna’s inner conflict.
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Stylized structure: Luc Besson uses non-linear timelines to blend fashion, espionage, and violence — though some critics see it as repetitive or gimmicky.
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Supporting cast power: Helen Mirren brings gravitas as Anna’s KGB mentor, and Cillian Murphy adds sleek intelligence as the CIA handler.
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Production flair: Lavish fashion sequences, slick Parisian and Moscow backdrops, and kinetic action scenes (e.g., restaurant shoot-out, Lubyanka escape) give the film its signature flair.
3. Themes & Messages
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Empowerment & exploitation: Anna weaponizes her appearance, blending empowerment with the objectification of her beauty — sharply playing into Besson’s recurring “gun-toting waif” archetype.
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Deception & identity: The movie centers on masks — both literal and figurative — exploring how identity can be constructed, hidden, and weaponized.
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Freedom at a price: Anna’s cunning bid for autonomy illustrates the perilous cost of breaking all ties in a world built on manipulation.
4. Personal Impressions
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👍 Strengths:
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Luss anchors the film with sleek intensity and charisma.
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The mix of espionage, fashion, and action feels like a high-gloss version of La Femme Nikita and Lucy.
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Nicely choreographed set-pieces — especially the Lubyanka exit and KGB HQ showdown.
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👎 Weaknesses:
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The story structure feels familiar and occasionally predictable, mirroring Besson’s earlier work with little innovation.
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Some time-jumps seem confusing, and emotional depth is sacrificed for style and spectacle.
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5. Audience Recommendations
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🎯 Best for you if:
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You’re a fan of slick spy thrillers (Atomic Blonde, Red Sparrow) with strong female leads.
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You enjoy stylized visuals, fashion-meets-action, and morally complex protagonists.
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❌ Maybe skip if:
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You prefer grounded, emotionally driven narratives or innovative storytelling — this film leans on style more than substance.
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6. Conclusion & Rating
Anna is a high-voltage action thriller — stylish, seductive, and stylishly over-the-top. It may tread familiar ground, but it does so with flair, high fashion, and compelling performances. If you want fast-paced thrills and glamorous espionage, it delivers — even if it doesn’t quite break new ground.
Final Verdict: A stylish, addictive spy thriller worth a watch for Besson fans and action lovers — albeit slightly undercooked.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (3/5)