Woman in Gold

Rating: 9/10 (20 April 2015)

While watching the new film, Woman in Gold, based upon the true life stories of Maria Altmann and Randol Schoenberg, I couldn't help, but think of caparisons and links between this film and last year's The Monuments Men. Both films deal with World War II and recovering art that was stolen by the Nazis during that time. While, The Monuments Men was a bit more of a period piece in some ways, Woman in Gold, flashes back between the past and present, but mostly deals with the present time. I personally enjoyed George Clooney's The Monuments Men, even though the film was anything but embraced by critics, who more, or less called the film a mess. While not my favourite film of last year, or even of George Clooney, I still found a lot to admire and appreciate about that film. Woman in Gold, as I mentioned above, does deal with a very similar subject, only I feel it is more of a personal account of one woman and her lawyer's experience with this than the men who went to recover the art in The Monuments Men. I feel that because, Woman in Gold, is dealing with real people and how they have been affected by the Nazi tragedies of the second World War and how they are now trying in a small way to get a piece of their heritage back, and we see the different emotions as well as the anger and resentment that still met them on their journey to do this, that for this reason alone, I find Woman in Gold, to be a much more personal film than The Monuments Men, and also a better made film in general, while I still did like both films. Unfortunately it seems that a lot of critics are dismissing Woman in Gold, much like they did with The Monuments Men, although this one is getting slightly better reviews than the previous film. I personally found a lot to like here. Helen Mirren, who I have always found to be a really solid actress, delivers another great performance here as Maria Altmann. Mirren's portrayal of her is as a feisty older woman who has seen a lot of tragedy and endured a lot of hardships in her life because of the second World War, but in her own way she is definitely a fighter and is a strong willed and courageous woman and also stubborn in a good way, whereas when she sets her heart and goals on something she will set out to achieve them, even if the situation looks hopeless. I found I cared deeply for this character and her strong willed spirit and also her feistiness was contagious and I could laugh and be amused at her character often as well. It was a great performance of Mirren's that goes along with many of her others. Ryan Reynolds, I have not seen in a lot of films, simply because a lot of what he normally stars in, is not the type of films that I would normally go and see. I have however found that he is getting better with his film choices lately like Adventureland and last year's The Captive. Both films I liked very much. I have never seen, Buried, but heard he was very good in there and that it was probably his strongest performance to date. Having said that, I found that he was excellent here as Randol Schoenberg, Maria's lawyer who eventually turned into her biggest supporter and close friend. At the start of the film, his character is not that interested in taking on Maria's case, but once he decides to do so and reflects on past memories, or what he finds out about his own and also Maria's past with the second World War, he is bound and determined to help her recover what was rightfully hers at any cost, no matter the money, or difficulties they may go through trying to achieve this. His character his certainly strong willed in his own way too and you really warm up to him in the second and third acts of the film and I think his character is just as fascinating and well played as Maria, and Mirren's portrayal of her as well. What makes, Woman in Gold, more than just a pleasing period piece film for two hours is the strong performances by it's two very capable lead actors here as well as the very impressive attention to detail the filmmaking crew used to make this story come to life as well as the fact that this is a really interesting true story and along the way we deeply care for these characters and their mission and really want to see them achieve what at one time seems impossible. The back story of Maria's life growing up during Nazi occupied Austria, to the fight she has in the present day is both equally captivating and riveting in it's own way. Randol's contemporary story is just as good as we see him trying to leave his mark in the world as a lawyer and also trying to raise a new family as well. As, I said before we really get to care for and root for these characters all the way. Overall, this is certainly a crowd pleasing film that will certainly please fans of Mirren, and make new fans of Reynolds and for any history and art lovers as well. A really well done and made picture that is better than what the critics are saying.