SummaryMoscow, 1953: when tyrannical dictator Joseph Stalin drops dead, his parasitic cronies square off in a frantic power struggle to be the next Soviet leader. Among the contenders are the dweeby Georgy Malenkov (Jeffrey Tambor), the wily Nikita Khrushchev (Steve Buscemi), and the sadistic secret police chief Lavrentiy Beria (Simon Russell B...
SummaryMoscow, 1953: when tyrannical dictator Joseph Stalin drops dead, his parasitic cronies square off in a frantic power struggle to be the next Soviet leader. Among the contenders are the dweeby Georgy Malenkov (Jeffrey Tambor), the wily Nikita Khrushchev (Steve Buscemi), and the sadistic secret police chief Lavrentiy Beria (Simon Russell B...
I keep finding myself wanting to compare it to 1964's "Dr. Strangelove," Stanley Kubrick's Cold War comic masterpiece -- which, as any movie buff will tell you, is exceptionally high praise. In this case, it's also warranted.
Like Orwell on helium, this reimagining of Stalin’s demise and the subsequent ideological gymnastics of his scheming acolytes is daring, quick-fire and appallingly funny.
Lots of movies mix comedy and horror. But Armando Iannucci’s The Death of Stalin makes real-life horrors the source of hilarity — and it is hilarious — while never making light of the insanity that inspired it.
Mordant in the extreme, and often hilarious, The Death of Stalin somehow manages to acknowledge the murderous depths of Josef Stalin’s regime while rising to the level of incisive, even invigorating political satire.
Armando Iannucci’s absurdist comedy reveals this in an extremely loose manner of speaking, with malice aforethought, straight-faced glee and formidable sharpshooting that occasionally misfires. It isn’t history but free-range fiction, a venomous farce containing nuggets of fact, and if its subjects bear any resemblance to present-day dictators and authoritarian mugs or thugs around the world, then the movie has hit its archetypal target.
This is one of those films where the comedy prefers to accentuate characters’ deficiencies than pursue slapstick. Because of this, Buscemi, Palin, Tambor, and a deliciously pompous and over-the-top Jason Isaacs (as Field Marshal Zhukov) shine.
Armando Iannucci satirizes the manner in which political power is accorded to those who can mask cutthroat ambition behind an outward projection of bland inoffensiveness.
This is an amusing watch - not entirely laugh out loud style but there's certainly an element of farce present. The many government worker type characters are somewhat comical but in a toned down sort of a way. The plot is pretty ludicrous but I found it really quite watchable and it was certainly entertaining regardless. Its fair to say that this is very much a political satire, one that features a lot of petty squabbling and I imagine it didn't go down well (plot wise) in certain parts of the world but thats easily guessed. I found the jerky/wobbly camerawork a bit frustrating and it relies on old stereotypes of the Russians, with scenes in a Siberian jail and so on. I like that its such an obvious send up of power and authority in such a powerful and feared part of the world. Its somehow amusing to see the 'powers that be' or those who worked for them, to be faced with having to create their new hierarchy, to see them struggle to build their future from whats left.
I should perhaps mention that there are some sex references and strong language present, plus mild to moderate violent scenes, hence the films 15 rating in the UK.
There's a lot of things bothering me about this film: it feels in part like a messed-up play, in part like a hastily made documentary; it's all over the place story-wise and the main idea doesn't really stay interesting all the way to the end. That being said, it does feature an amazing cast in very fitting roles - I have to give particular nods to Steve Buscemi, comedy legend Michael Palin and Jason Isaacs.
The comedy in this movie comes form the way how it essentially criticizes the Soviet Union by exaggerating things. It never goes too far though; there is a sense of realism present all the time. Some moments become very hilarious though, and all of the actors have great comedic timing. The story is paper thin but still manages to complicate things and, unfortunately, the steam runs out halfway through. After that you just sit there, waiting for it all to end.
I tried several times to watch this movie from start to finish but could never bring myself to do so. It's a movie full of satire that I grew weary of watching because it never delivered anything funny or emotional or thought provoking.
“The Laughs come in jolts and waves with savage one-liners.”
Manohla Dargis New York Times
“Often Hilarious” Michael Phillips Chicago Tribune
“A unique and hilarious British comedy.”
Mike LaSalle San Francisco Chronicle
“Source of hilarity and it is hilarious.”
Bill Goodykoontz Arizona Republic “A complete bore! Did the above critics see the same movie I saw?”
GreatMartin
“The Death of Stalin” is set in the 1950s and the fight for power in Russia after the dictator’s death. Are you laughing yet? It supposedly is satire which implies irony or sarcasm and the director/writer, Armando Iannucci, tries everything from the Marx Brothers and the Three Stooges slapstick to insult comedy, chaos, no attempt at Russian accents having various accents ranging from Brooklyn to London but getting very few reactions from the audience.
Iannucci is the writer of the much awarded HBO series “Veep” known for its comedy, irony, and sarcasm which it delivers with belly laughs, smiles, smirks, and humor while here he enlists 2 additional writers and the only smile/laugh I can remember is a crack about Grace Kelly!
The cast consisting of Steve Buscemi, Michael Palin, Simon Russell Beale, Adrian McLoughlin, Jeffrey Tambor, Olga Kurylenko, Rupert Friend, Jason Issacs, Paddy Considine among others deliver the expected performances with a little scenery chewing now and then.
Enjoy seeing people shot in the head, brains taken out of a head after the scalp is cut back and ‘fun’ things like that? Can you go another day without knowing that most good doctors in Russia were killed and that Stalin had lists of people to be killed?
Those answering ‘yes’ to any of the questions asked should probably go and see “The Death of Stalin”.
The only questions I am asking myself is have I lost my sense of humor as I’ve grown older or is funny and/or satire not what it was defined years ago?
Production Company
Quad,
Main Journey,
Gaumont,
France 3 Cinéma,
La Compagnie Cinématographique,
Panache Productions,
Canal+,
Cine+,
France Télévisions,
Free Range Films,
Title Media