MovieChat Forums > Anna Karenina (2012) Discussion > shame Jude Law couldn't be Vronsky

shame Jude Law couldn't be Vronsky


I totally see him more as Vronsky. Maybe he's a bit too old now. But when he was younger he would have made a wonderful Vronsky.

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Que sera sera. If he were 30, it would be perfect for him, but that's life. We all get older, even Jude Law. Karenins have to be at least as strong as Vronskys, or else the whole thing doesn't wash. I don't think anyone has ever cast Karenin as he was in the book -- unattractive with a high-pitched voice and sticking-out ears. Eric Porter, James Fox, Ralph Richardson, Paul Scofield, Stephen Dillane, Jude Law -- all these guys have been decent looking if not downright handsome. I don't think a dumpy-looking Karenin would fly with an audience, even though the character has no sex appeal.

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Two years later, I come to tell you that in the 1967 Russian version, Karenin is not very good-looking at all, with an extremely grating voice, but darned if he didn't absolutely kill me, anyway, when he came to Anna as she lay "dying" and was repeatedly kissing her hands and sobbing.

Don't worry if you don't speak Russian, familiarity with the novel makes the whole thing easy enough to follow.

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I know, I just assumed Law would be playing Vronsky at first.

But then I realized that he's really too old now, and Karenin is in many ways the more challenging part.

I think Law got many accolades for his performance as Karenin.





Oh, Inspector Morse! What big blue eyes you have...

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You're quite right, he is too old. It happens to all of us. His performance was the best thing in the film and proves that he is more than a pretty face.

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[deleted]

After hearing Jude and Keira were in the same film, I instantly hoped it was in a romantic way. Looks good regardless (about to watch) but now that I'm thinking about it, he would have made a great Mr. Darcy.

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