Film Review – Woman in Gold

“Woman in Gold” is an audience-pleaser, and a highly effective one at that. It recounts the case of Maria Altmann, an elderly woman living in Los Angeles with claim to one of artist Gustav Klimt’s most famous paintings, engaging in a lengthy legal battle with Austria for its return. The case involved heated behind the scenes negotiations, substantial research, and, most pointedly, physical endurance, making it prime fodder for a big screen exploration. Director Simon Curtis (“My Week with Marilyn”) respects the sensitivity of the fight, but he’s not above staging a few moments of broad villainy, which include Nazi atrocities and impatient courtroom behavior. Despite surges in exaggeration, “Woman in Gold” captures the spirit of Altmann’s quest with efficiency, making for a satisfactory drama with deeply felt performances. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com