I’m not sure what I expected going into this picture but I did not think my initial assessment would be, “I was on the edge of my seat.” This brash statement had my theater going pals wondering if I was sitting in a smaller seat.

Although it might not be the next Bourne film, The Danish Girl is certainly poignant and emotional.

Eddie Redmayne steeps himself in the roles of Lili and Einar, flawlessly transforming into the person he believes himself to be. As Gerda, Vikander allows the audience to feel the swell of emotion crashing down upon her; especially as she begins to paint Lili and her struggling art career ascends. Her acceptance of Lili is gradual and guides us to the end of the film.

Redmayne is fantastic but I wanted the actual film to be better than it was, my initial proclamation notwithstanding. Although brilliant acting is a wonderful thing to watch, this artistic picture doesn’t quite venture into the Film Clas elite, doodling on 3.7 napkins out of 5.