Not a bad movie per se, but all in all not a very good one mainly because of the directing choices. The story and atmosphere was good, but why on earth have the actors all play with a fake Russian accent ? if you're aiming for authenticity, have them speak Russian, use Russian actors.. But of course that wouldn't sell, but the half measure of having the comedians speaking in Russian accented english felt just contrived not to mention distracting.
The rendering of events and how Russia was a police state inserting itself in everyday life and up into the people's bedroom (the short subplot where a guy gets caught for being gay and ultimately commits suicide), instilling fear at every level of the society of a knock on the door, was on the other end quite good.
The characters interaction, their motives where sketchy at best, which, is paradoxical, with a set-up this long. But again, the acting and direction made it quite impossible to engage at an emotional level with either character and you endup watch the plot unfold with as much involvement as you would watching an ad for some banking company.
So an interesting plot, mostly butchered by a second rate director with the wrong aspirations. The movie nonetheless has some highlights along the way, but would in no way deserve a second watching.
Review by RxBVIP 6BlockedParentSpoilers2015-09-13T09:02:12Z
Not a bad movie per se, but all in all not a very good one mainly because of the directing choices. The story and atmosphere was good, but why on earth have the actors all play with a fake Russian accent ? if you're aiming for authenticity, have them speak Russian, use Russian actors.. But of course that wouldn't sell, but the half measure of having the comedians speaking in Russian accented english felt just contrived not to mention distracting.
The rendering of events and how Russia was a police state inserting itself in everyday life and up into the people's bedroom (the short subplot where a guy gets caught for being gay and ultimately commits suicide), instilling fear at every level of the society of a knock on the door, was on the other end quite good.
The characters interaction, their motives where sketchy at best, which, is paradoxical, with a set-up this long. But again, the acting and direction made it quite impossible to engage at an emotional level with either character and you endup watch the plot unfold with as much involvement as you would watching an ad for some banking company.
So an interesting plot, mostly butchered by a second rate director with the wrong aspirations. The movie nonetheless has some highlights along the way, but would in no way deserve a second watching.