The Woman in Gold

I have seen a few smaller films recently that I have thoroughly enjoyed much more than I had been expecting. Woman In Gold is one of them. I have seen that the critical reception for this movie hasn't been particularly strong, but audiences seem to be loving it. While working, I typically ask people coming out of Woman In Gold how the movie was, and have yet to hear a negative comment. Everyone I talk to loves this movie, and I almost loved it as well. If it hadn't been for a few minor issues I had with Woman In Gold, I would be saying it is absolutely amazing rather than "just" very, very good and highly recommended. The first fifteen or twenty minutes of the film didn't grip me the way a movie is supposed to. The narrative moves around very quickly trying to set up a story, that it fails to establish flow out of the gate. This flimsy setup rights itself almost immediately however, as the rest of the film is straight up great. The story is gripping, the characters are interesting, and the pacing hits that perfect balance where the movie isn't too long, but long enough for you to become invested. A particularly strong aspect of the film is how it develops Helen Mirren's character (who along with Ryan Reynolds were fantastic leads) The story would occasionally shift from "present-day" Mirren, to a younger version of her and her story. This gradual build-up guides the audience along her path the same way she experiences it. Woman In Gold is a surprisingly entertaining and triumphant film that showcases a few very strong performances, and provides some "hold your breath" moments as well as more than a few touching scenes. I now see why people have been raving about this film, and I highly recommend it. I would also like to point out something I noticed during the movie; while it is supposed to take place in the early 2000's, did anyone (who has seen it) notice the big Guardians of the Galaxy poster in the background of one scene?