Review: Anna and the King (1999)

This is a Resurfaced review written in 2002 or earlier. For more information, please visit this link: Resurfaced Reviews.

Anna and the King

Rating

Director

Andy Tennant

Screenplay

Steve Meerson, Peter Krikes (Diaries: Anna Leonowens)

Length

2h 28m

Starring

Jodie Foster, Chow Yun-Fat, Bai Ling, Tom Felton, Randal Duk Kim, Lim Kay Siu, Melissa Campbell, Keith Chin, Syed Alwi

MPAA Rating

PG-13

Review

Rivaling Shakespeare’s films as one of the most remade films in history, “Anna and the King” is the oft-told tale of young Anna Leonowens and her journey into love and tragedy while serving as tutor to the children of the king of Siam.

“Anna” is not a musical (see “The King and I” both live action and animated versions). Originally adapted to the screen in 1946 as “Anna and the King of Siam” from the diaries of Anna Leonowens, “Anna and the King” is an often magical tale of unspoken love in a culture that both accepts and renounces the British traditions.

Anna (Jodie Foster) is hired as a tutor for the King of Siam, Mongkut (Chow Yun-Fat). She brings her son Louis (Tom Felton) to stay with her while she educates the King’s son in the ways of British society. When she arrives, she finds that she’s not only his tutor, but also the tutor to all of the king’s wives and children (dozens).

To get her there, the King has promised Anna many things, few of which he delivers upon arrival. She eventually gets what she demands, but in the beginning it gives her the opportunity to get angry with the King and help propel the story.

Unfortunately, a lot of the film is petty bickering between Anna and the King. While it is part of the entire story, it felt at times like I was watching a badly written soap opera. Foster is terrific as Ms. Leonowens and Yun-Fat is surprisingly good in his role. The rest of the cast is multi-dimensional when they need to be, but some are just simply flat.

The palace sets were heavily recreated on location in Siam. The talent going into each marble staircase and garden is immense and beautiful. The lighting is nice, but some of the shots are amateurish. The costumes are breathtaking, but the pacing is slow.

When the film resolves itself, you find yourself wanting to cheer (not doing so because there’s no talking in the theater) for the triumph of wills and loves.

There isn’t much that can be taken from the film that hasn’t already been said a thousand times and a thousand ways. “Anna and the King” is a classic tale of love against all odds and the triumph of the human spirit over adversity, something that can be found in nearly every film, but adequately well in Anna and the King.