The Death of Stalin

... and yet this film does just that. It revolves around the power struggle that occurs at the death of Stalin in 1953, a man who had an iron grip on Russia for 30 years and enforced his will with terror, often randomly.

So when the sycophants who surround him are suddenly bereft of his soul, they are all jockeying for power while finding it very difficult to do the one thing that would get you tortured and killed as long as they can remember - independent thinking, or even making suggestions for that matter. A simple show of hands vote becomes a hilarious demonstration of group think. They all have a collective case of Stockholm Syndrome when it comes to Stalin, still afraid of a man who is dead.

Jeffrey Tambor is doing his character Hank from the 90s sitcom "The Larry Sanders Show", and Steve Buschemi, as Nikita Khrushchev, doesn't look like any picture of Khrushchev that I ever saw at any point in his life. Plus he's basically doing his "funny looking guy" schtick from Fargo, and yet it all works.

When Lavrenti Beria, head of the secret police and probably responsible for untold terrors, gently tells Stalin's daughter that she needs to leave Russia because people who are strange like she is don't live very long, it is practically a sweet intimate moment that runs counter to everything we know about the guy.

This is a bleak yet hilarious comedy built around real events. I'd highly recommend it.

Moscow, 1953. After being in power for nearly 30 years, Soviet dictator, Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin, takes ill and quickly dies. Now the members of the Council of Ministers scramble for power in the government and the army. That inner circle is comprised of: Nikita Khrushchev (Steve Buscemi) , First Secretary of the Moscow Committee; Vyacheslav Molotov (Michael Palin), Foreign Secretary; Georgi Malenkov (Jeffrey Tambor) , Deputy to Stalin; Lazar Kaganovich, Minister for Labor; Anastas Mikoyan, Minister for Trade; Nikolai Bulganin, Minister for Defense; and arguably most terrifying Lavrenti Beria (Simon Russell Beale), these high authorities attempt to curry the favor of Stalin's two adult children, Svetlana Alliluyeva (Andrea Riseborough) and Vasili Stalin (Rupert Friend). Furthermore, Field Marshal Georgi Zhukov (Jason Isaacs), Head of the Soviet Army, who has the manpower of the said army behind him. Everybody wants a piece !. When a great leader falls, the fight for leadership begins !. In the Kremlin, no one can hear you scheme !. It's every comrade for himself !. You'll laugh or else !. He's dying to replace him !. Russia 1953, a nation in fear of one man !. The deputy, the politician, the son, the spymaster, the general !.

A peculiar comedy of terrors loosely based on the true story. Armando Iannucci (Veep, Avenue 5, The personal life of David Copperfield, In The Loop) directs and writes the script for this satire with a lot of black humor about the days before and immediately after Stalin's death. In 'The Death of Stalin' (2017) is depicted the last days of Stalin in a satirical, and humorous way with a number of outlandish incidents, including the rollercoaster of incessant plotting, tireless machinations, and the twisted, frail allegiances. There are several hilarious references to historical events, so when the Politburo first discovers Stalin's comatose body the morning after his stroke and move him to his bed, they briefly allude to how they "got rid of the good doctors in Moscow." It's a reference to the Doctors' Plot, a campaign in 1952 and 1953 that accused doctors of Jewish ancestry of conspiring to assassinate Soviet leaders. Adapted from the graphic novel of the same name by Fabien Nury and Thierry Robin published in 2010, this multi-award-winning film (best comedy at the European Film Awards, four awards at the British Independent Film Awards) stars an ensemble cast that embodies the different contenders in the fight to occupy the position of the recently deceased Stalin. So Steven Buscemi is the politician Nikita Khruschev, Simon Russell Beale is the director of the Russian secret service, Jeffrey Tambor is the legitimate secretary general, Michael Palin is Vyacheslav Molotov and Andrea Riseborough and Rupert Friend are Stalin's own children, in addition Field Marshal Georgi Zhukov, who's head of the Soviet Army, and that's why he has a huge power. All of then giving splendid interpretations. Along with them, in minor roles appearing: Olga Kurylenko, Paddy Considine, Paul Whitehouse, Roger Ashton-Griffiths, among others, they complete the nice cast of this film that was prohibited by the authorities of Vladimir Putin's government in Russia.

Paced in the form of satire by director and co-writer Armando Iannucci (nominated for the Academy Award for his screenplay ¨In The Loop¨), this is a special film and out of the real events. Rating: 7/10. Better than average. The film will appeal to historical parodies enthusiasts. Well worth seeing.

A dark comedic depiction of the terror inflicted by Stalin and those around him. As utterly bizarre and bad taste as that sounds, this is utterly fantastic. The cast as incredible as you'll see in any film, Buscemi and Beale especially, but really, everyone is flawless. The dialogue is hysterically delivered without even the hint of a Russian accent and the whole thing has an air of farce, but one surrounded with firing squads, power struggles and gulags. Only Simon Russel Beale as Beria really terrifies, with back stabbing, double crossing and a plot as twisted as the deceptions on screen, but really it's Jason Issacs that steals the show, his entrance and performance is nothing short of majestic! Hello!!

8/10

This is an excellent film. And its treatment of the Stalin Era of the Soviet Union is both darkly humorous and actually very unflinching in its depicting the monsters and their monstrosities for what they were.

I was worried that, in an attempt to extract humor from the situation that they might've glossed over just how monstrous the key characters actually were. To Iannucci and Schneider's credit however, there was absolutely no glossing over at all. Beria, for instance, is portrayed as every bit the monster in human form that he was - this, even as that portrayal is also made darkly and delightfully humorous at times.

The whole cast played their parts well and played them "straight" - which only heightened the humor and the horror of what life was like under Stalin in the Soviet Union. Even the nominal "hero" of the tale, Nakita Khrushchev, is realistically portrayed as being just as conniving and callous and power hungry as everyone else. Buscemi would seem an odd choice for that particular role but he pulls it off with style and excellence. So too does Simon Russell Beale in his portrayal of Beria.

This is a nicely done film with excellent production values, a great script, fine acting, excellent pacing, and a compelling tale that is well told.

I highly recommend it!

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.