Netflix 'Inventing Anna' Review: Brilliant storytelling with Garner's acting masterclass
With the emergence of streaming platforms, we have seen a lot of projects based on real-life incidents or real people. Although they started their lives by being normal, life had something else planned for them. The 26-year-old Anna “Delvey” Sorokin was one such person who stunned the world by doing the unthinkable. Known as the master scammer, Anna actually fooled some of the richest and most affluent people in America to make things work for her.
The extraordinary story of this young girl is the inspiration behind Netflix’s limited series ‘Inventing Anna’. The story sees Anna “Delvey” Sorokin (Julia Garner) coming to New York to set up the Anna Delvey Foundation for artists around the world. However, she faced a lot of difficulties and decided to pose as a young German heiress who has a lot of money. As the story progresses, she meets some of the most powerful people in the US and wrapped them around her fingers. Was able to set up the foundation? Or she had to face further problems to make her dreams come true.
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When you see Anna for the first time, you’ll definitely feel that she is a scammer, but as the story moves forward it shows Anna was actually a victim of misogyny. The elite class will never like a person from nowhere getting everything in a short period. They won’t let them prosper and if you are a female, then it gets worse for you. So, Anna was working in the Purple Magazine when she decided to move to New York but as soon as she started meeting people for the foundation, she got to know that rich people won’t talk to her unless she is rich as well.
So she took identity and lived with it by showing that she was a German heiress. From banks to lawyers to celebrities, she was the girl that everyone wanted to work with. This is how Anna Sorokin became Anna Delvey.
The best thing about the limited series is that it gives ample time to several storylines. Whether it was Anna’s story with Rachel or Anna’s chats with Vivian, the story will not leave any person who was involved in her story. The screenplay and cinematography are brilliant.
As far as acting is concerned, I can see another Emmy coming for Julia Garner. I mean, she is flawless. You can give any role to her and she will give you a performance that will mesmerize you. Her Russian accent is really good. Her confidence is what makes her a great actor. We are truly seeing one of the best actors of this generation and she is just getting started.
Meanwhile, Anna Chlumsky is phenomenal as Vivian Kent. She is determined to make everything right for her career by chasing Anna’s story and the way she continues to work hard will make you fall in love with her character. Chlumsky is fierce, strong-headed and portrays a character that has a warrior kind of strength. She nailed it. Chlumksy's character is inspired by journalist Jessica Pressler, whose article was the inspiration behind the series.
Katie Lowes is another actor that would steal your heart away. First of all, her smile will surely make you fall for her and then, her acting skills will make you want to applaud her. She plays Rachel Williams on the show, the woman who actually started the case by filing a complaint. Lowes has done an extremely good job on the show. However, it was Arian Moayed (Todd) who is literally the scene-stealer here. He has this one shot of making big in his career and he believes this case will help him do that. The scene where Todd’s character tells Anna the reality during the trial is one of the best scenes of the series and when he finishes, you just want to stand up and applaud his acting. He is truly the breakout star of the series.
Laverne Cox and Alexis Floyd are the definition of girl power on the show. Meanwhile, Jeff Perry (Lou), Anna Deavere Smith (Maud), and Terry Kinney (Barry) are simply outstanding.
The show might be too long for some people, but the bases that the makers have covered made us realize why it was so important for them to make the series like that. If they would have left one base, the entire story would have something missing. It also reveals that misogyny still prevails on Wall Street, businesses, and everywhere. The rich businessmen won’t let a young female succeed on her own and if she wants to collaborate with them, then all they need is sex.
All in all, the series is an eye-opener on many things. Most importantly it is a series which tells us how a normal-looking girl can also take you for a spin if she wants something. Now, she was a crook or not, you can decide that for yourself. But was she ambitious? Yes. Did she do anything illegal? Maybe not.
If you miss this series, then you are missing a perfectly made limited series with some of the best performances of this year.