Anna

THE GIST: Orphaned as a little girl, Anna lives a life of drudgery and abuse. One day, she applies to join the Russian military and eventually is recruited by the KGB.

I had low expectations when I went to see Anna, thinking it would be the usual boilerplate espionage flick, but I was pleasantly surprised.

There are so many twists and turns and flashbacks that it definitely keeps you engaged. The action is relentless as well.

In the title role, newcomer Sasha Luss is very good and incredibly beautiful. Helen Mirren, Luke Evans, and Cillian Murphy are all excellent as always.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Definitely recommend this movie to anyone into thrillers, crime, or espionage movies. It might feel a bit confusing at times because of the dense plot, but it's worth tagging along.

Grade: 8