Review of Woman in Gold (2015) by Foxgrove — 19 Apr 2015

Watch ably entertaining if somewhat dramatically underwhelming and a tad pedestrian in presentation. The film projects an air of importance that the screenplay and performances just don’t support. Helen Mirren is fine, although not at her subtle best, as the Austrian Jew forced to flee her homeland due to the mistreatment of her race by fellow countrymen. More than half a century on she is seeking to have returned to her a painting of her aunt Adele, the woman in gold that was seized by the Nazis back in the 30’s. To this end she hires a lawyer, Ryan Reynolds, and the two of them endeavour to retrieve the art work from the Belvedere Palace where it has since resided for around 60 years.

Whilst the story is a good one the film projects such a manipulative air of nobility about it that instead of the intended pathos it more often than not causes the rolling of one’s eyes in laughable exasperation. Reynolds is better than he has been given credit for, although not particularly strong. However, his final speech at the arbitration hearing, is well delivered. The best scenes are those that flashback to the past in Austria. These are compelling and hint at another, better film, asking to be made. The coda is unusual and just reinforces the strident effort that has gone in to making this a manipulative tearjerker. On the positive side production values are good and the film is slickly packaged with a cast of notable character actors popping in and out. Of these, however, Elizabeth McGovern makes for an unconvincing judge.