Woman in Gold

In 1998, Austrian ex-patriot Maria Altman (Helen Mirren) learns of an opportunity to retrieve what is rightfully hers: a famous Gustav Klimt painting of her aunt, plundered by the Nazis during World War II. She enlists the efforts of a young lawyer (Ryan Reynolds) to fight the Austrian government to gain possession of the valuable artwork. Meanwhile, we glimpse the 1940 struggle of her aunt, facing potential atrocities from the invaders, as she attempts to leave the country and flee to safety.

ClearPlay In Action!

Nazis. War. Court. Sounds like the potential for lots of ClearPlay work. But the PG-13 Woman in Gold is surprisingly tame. The violence is subdued, and ClearPlay cuts about 10 instances of language, much of it in one scene and some of it harsh. The edited version, though intense, is okay for most members of the family, although the implications of the flashback scenes may be too stark for younger viewers.

Does this woman earn the gold?...

The pacing is somewhat deliberate in Woman in Gold. Though the performances are solid, the story feels a bit like painting by the numbers. But despite its lack of surprises, the emotional payoff still worked for me.

Marty Nabhan, ClearPlay Gilder of Lilies

Rated PG-13 for some thematic elements and brief strong language; 109 mins; Directed by Simon Curtis