🎞️ Movie Overview

• Title: Anna

• Release Date: June 21, 2019 (USA), July 10, 2019 (France)

• Genre: Action-Thriller / Spy

• Director: Luc Besson

• Cast:

  • Sasha Luss (Anna Poliatova)

  • Helen Mirren (Olga)

  • Luke Evans (Alex Tchenkov)

  • Cillian Murphy (Lenny Miller)

• 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

• Sasha Luss’s duality: Her transformation from cold façade to lethal precision provides a compelling, layered portrayal of Anna’s inner conflict.

• Stylized structure: Luc Besson uses non-linear timelines to blend fashion, espionage, and violence — though some critics see it as repetitive or gimmicky.

• Supporting cast power: Helen Mirren brings gravitas as Anna’s KGB mentor, and Cillian Murphy adds sleek intelligence as the CIA handler. 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

• Empowerment & exploitation: Anna weaponizes her appearance, blending empowerment with the objectification of her beauty — sharply playing into Besson’s recurring “gun-toting waif” archetype.

• 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

• 👍 Strengths:

  • Luss anchors the film with sleek intensity and charisma.

  • The mix of espionage, fashion, and action feels like a high-gloss version of La Femme Nikita and Lucy.

  • Nicely choreographed set-pieces — especially the Lubyanka exit and KGB HQ showdown.

• 👎 Weaknesses:

  • The story structure feels familiar and occasionally predictable, mirroring Besson’s earlier work with little innovation.

  • Some time-jumps seem confusing, and emotional depth is sacrificed for style and spectacle.

5. Audience Recommendations

• 🎯 Best for you if:

  • You’re a fan of slick spy thrillers (Atomic Blonde, Red Sparrow) with strong female leads.

  • You enjoy stylized visuals, fashion-meets-action, and morally complex protagonists.

• ❌ Maybe skip if:

  • You prefer grounded, emotionally driven narratives or innovative storytelling — this film leans on style more than substance.

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)