Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Olga Kurylenko | ... | Maria Veniaminovna Yudina | |
Tom Brooke | ... | Sergei | |
Paddy Considine | ... | Andreyev | |
Justin Edwards | ... | Spartak Sokolov - Conductor 1 | |
Adrian McLoughlin | ... | Josef Stalin | |
Simon Russell Beale | ... | Lavrenti Beria | |
Jeffrey Tambor | ... | Georgy Malenkov | |
Steve Buscemi | ... | Nikita Khrushchev | |
Michael Palin | ... | Vyacheslav Molotov | |
Paul Ready | ... | NKVD Officer Delov | |
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Yulya Muhrygina | ... | Woman in Layers of Clothes |
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Andrey Korzhenevskiy | ... | Man in Layers of Clothes |
Roger Ashton-Griffiths | ... | Musician 1 (as Roger Ashton Griffiths) | |
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Jeremy Limb | ... | Musician 2 |
Andy Gathergood | ... | Citizen Bundled into Car |
In early-1953 Moscow, under the Great Terror's heavy cloak of state paranoia, the ever-watchful Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin, collapses unexpectedly of a brain hemorrhage. Inevitably, when his body is discovered the following morning, a frenetic surge of raw panic spreads like a virus among the senior members of the Council of Ministers as they scramble to maintain order, weed out the competition, and, ultimately, take power. But in the middle of a gut-wrenching roller-coaster of incessant plotting, tireless machinations, and frail allegiances, absolutely no one is safe; not even the feared chief of the secret police, Lavrenti Beria. In the end, who will prevail after the death of Stalin? Written by Nick Riganas
Watched this at the cinema last night and although I was looking forward to it and was expecting it to be good I was still pleasantly surprised.
Firstly: the actors all put in very believable and impressive performances. A joy to behold. Secondly: the plot is as intruiging as it is funny and really keeps you glued to the screen. Thirdly: this made me laugh out loud at least five times during it's run-time. You know: the sort of laughs you just can't hold back even if you try.
In essence this is a very dark film that makes light of the crimes against humanity all these people were actually guilty of comitting. Some people might find it offensive that they are portrayed as quite funny and engaging characters. But I think Iannucci does such a good job reminding the audience of the nature of these people that he keeps a balance and really succeeds with this movie.
Very enjoyable. One of the best movies of the year. I really enjoyed this - and if you like whitty dialogue, good acting and an intelligently unfolded plot - you will too.