Anna (2019) - Shallow but enjoyable - 7/10 (15/03/20)

Anna is an entertaining action-thriller in the key of Atomic Blonde, Hanna and Red Sparrow. Directed by veteran Luc Besson, the movie tells the story of a beautiful drug addict who is given the opportunity to work as a KGB spy. After a hard training, she is sent to Paris where she works as a model and is in a relationship with a female French colleague while secretly executing enemies of the state and stealing confidential information. Soon enough, the CIA gets aware of her activities and sets a trap for her. She is forced to kill her own superior in exchange for freedom and a fresh new start in Hawaii. However, Anna starts making her own plans as she knows that she can't rely on anyone but herself.

The movie has numerous obvious flaws. The story is too closely inspired by the aforementioned movies, extremely predictable and completely exaggerated. The movie includes numerous unnecessary errors such as people using modern laptops in the mid-eighties. The numerous shifts in the timeline are annoying, confusing and overused.

The movie is best enjoyed if you switch your brain off and don't ask yourself any questions. The action sequences are breathtaking. The diversified locations add a lot of atmosphere. Rather unknown lead actress Sasha Luss convinces as unpredictable femme fatale while veteran actress Helen Mirren steals the show as grumpy Soviet handler.

Anna isn't a movie that will win many awards or leave significant marks. However, it's enjoyably fast-paced and vividly entertaining. It offers its viewers two vibrant hours to escape from reality and that should be considered good enough in bleak times like these. Grab a few beers, get some snacks and enjoy this film with your family members or friends.