Following their collaborations in Pride and Prejudice and Atonement, director Joe Wright and actress Keira Knightley reunite for Anna Karenina, an intriguing new take on the classic novel. This is, strikingly, the twelfth film adaptation of Anna Karenina, with previous versions starring actresses such as Greta Garbo and Vivien Leigh among the most notable. To make this version stand out, the bulk of the film takes place inside a theater, highlighting the idea that the characters live out their lives on a stage for the world to see. While technically proficient and gifted with an outstanding cast (highlighted by Knightley and Jude Law in particular), the film sometimes falters; Wright’s artistic choices sometimes put the admittedly stunning style far in front of the substance of the story.