I was going to see it but was too lazy... maybe on DVD.
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye". The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, pilot and author, lost on mission, July 1944, Med Theatre.
Posts: 6020 | Location: Central Texas | Registered: September 14, 2003
I had read that most of the movie was based on actual events such as:
1. His guards KNEW he was dying but were terrified to respond in time 2. He lacked good docs because he'd had most of the decent ones killed or sent to the gulag 3. His son was a real fuckup and he managed to keep him out of trouble (mostly) by appointing him a General in the Soviet Air Force
Posts: 34973 | Location: Pennsylvania | Registered: November 12, 2007
I had a great time - thought it was an enjoyable film.
It was dark, yes, but the period it covers was extremely dark. I think knowing a bit about that period in history the ironies and humor were very obvious to me, but most of the folks in the theater were laughing when I did, so the humor wasn't super-obscure.
Posts: 15205 | Location: North Carolina | Registered: October 15, 2007
Just watched it last night. Thought it was good, not great but decent. They did a good job of showing the absurdity of living in a screwed-up Communist hellhole like the USSR.
Man, that Beria was one BAD dude.
I really thought that Jason Isaacs as Field Marshal Georgy Zhukov really kinda stole the show, though. If there ever was a Soviet version of General George Patton, I think it was this guy!
Posts: 34973 | Location: Pennsylvania | Registered: November 12, 2007
I finally got around to watching this. I have not laughed out loud that much at a movie in years.
That stated, it is very dark, cynical, and ends on a really dark note, which seemed a bit out of place. If you know much about Stalin post-WWII and the politics and characters, that would help a lot. Not for everybody, such as my wife, but they nailed it from my perspective.
Posts: 3553 | Location: Alexandria, VA | Registered: March 07, 2011
Finally got around to watching it, someone had taken off my reminder list. Pretty entertaining and funny, this is what I'd imagine if the Monty Python crew was charged with a making a movie about a horrific world figure. Took a bit to get over everyone's British accent, however since everyone had it, it wasn't an issue. The absurdity of communism and its results, is laid bare in this movie.
Some good background and compare/contrast what was real. The fight between the two commentators at the radio station is pretty hilarious.
Posts: 15137 | Location: Wine Country | Registered: September 20, 2000
Watched it. Some funny stuff, so a thumbs up from me. I can however see how it might not appeal to everyone. My wife left the room after 5 minutes.
Men fight for liberty and win it with hard knocks. Their children, brought up easy, let it slip away again, poor fools. And their grandchildren are once more slaves.
-D.H. Lawrence
Posts: 11524 | Location: Fort Worth, Texas | Registered: February 07, 2007
Millions died laughing. Not. No way could I watch it.
_________________________ “ What all the wise men promised has not happened, and what all the damned fools said would happen has come to pass.”— Lord Melbourne
Posts: 18511 | Location: One hop from Paradise | Registered: July 27, 2004
I find Netflix now has "The Death of Stalin". We very much enjoyed this, comparisons to a Monty Python look at that time in history are worth considering. Flippant, understated and over the top. And oh yeah, the brutality.
Set the controls for the heart of the Sun.
Posts: 8616 | Location: Flown-over country | Registered: December 25, 2008
A name I hadn't heard before this thread of Lavrenti Beria. Did some reading and he wasn't a nice person. Also looked like a psychopath. Here's a picture of him with Stalin's daughter:
Posts: 4500 | Location: Kansas City, MO | Registered: May 28, 2004
