Sometimes an individual performance overshadows everything else in a motion picture…
So it is with Academy Award winner Helen Mirren—make that DAME Helen Mirren—in WOMAN IN GOLD.
That’s not to say that the film itself lacks interest. After all it IS a fascinating story based on real events dating back to Nazi times and finally culminating in 2004.
This is the true story of Maria Altmann‘s well-to-do Jewish family residing in Vienna just prior to World War II. The Nazi’s plundered the Altmann’s proudest possessions which included Gustav Klimt’s 1907 masterpiece painting dubbed ‘Woman In Gold.’
21 year old Maria and her new husband Fritz successfully escaped Austria, eventually settling in Los Angeles.
Fast forward decades to the 21st century where now widowed Maria resides on the left coast when she discovers a letter left by her late sister.
It hints that the famous painting was in fact now on display at a Vienna state gallery.
Had the Austrian government taken ownership of what rightfully belonged to her family?
They sure did!
Time for naturalized American citizen Helen Mirren’s character to take on the Austrian government and reclaim her past—but easier said than done.
That’s when she engages scrappy young attorney Ryan Reynolds who now pours his heart into it. It almost causes his marriage to Katie Holmes to go south.
A legal battle of immense proportions ensues leading all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States.
As for the final ruling in ‘The Republic of Austria vs. Altmann’?
Suffice it to say that the famous painting is now on permanent display at Ronald S. Lauder’s New York gallery. He bought the painting from Maria for a reported $135 million.
Ms. Altmann passed away in 2011.
The sometimes heavy-handed storytelling in the movie is overshadowed though by Mirren’s bittersweet portrayal here. But then as an actress, THIS dame is in a class by herself.
WOMAN IN GOLD opens in limited runs this weekend scoring a B-.
(Reviewed at AMC Town Center, Leawood)
JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES Friday mornings at 6:40 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. on 98.1 FM, KMBZ and anytime on Facebook.
hopefully ms. mirrin’s acting is so transcendent that it will also overcome the spoiler you included in your review. recommend, for those who know nothing about this saga, you add a spoiler alert at the top of the review. imo of course.
In the ironic dept — “Gold” makes it now an even 6 million Holocaust themed movies cranked out by Hollywood.
a quick P.S.:…..Don’t confuse this movie with “THE MONUMENTS MEN” of a couple seasons ago. THIS one’s better!!!!!
Not a movie (yet) but if you like the story line of “The Monuments Men” and “Woman In Gold” with an interesting fictional twist then read “Phoebe and the Ghost of Chagall”. Author has a Kansas City tie.
Another question is how the rich Jewish family acquired the painting. Did they plunder also?