The Death of Stalin (2017)

The Very Best

8.1

Movie

Belgium, Canada
English
Comedy, Drama, History
2017
ARMANDO IANNUCCI
Adam Ewan, Adam Shaw, Adrian McLoughlin
107 min

What it's about

When dictator Joseph Stalin dies, his parasitic cronies square off in a frantic power struggle to become the next Soviet leader. As they bumble, brawl and back-stab their way to the top, the question remains — just who is running the government?

The take

This is a hilarious political comedy starring the ever-great Steve Buscemi. Set in the last days before Stalin's death and the chaos that followed, it portrays the lack of trust and the random assassinations that characterized the Stalinist Soviet Union. Think of it as Veep meets Sacha Baron Cohen's The Dictator. Although to be fair, its dark comedy props are very different from the comedy that comes out today: where there are jokes they're really smart, but what's actually funny is the atmosphere and absurd situations that end up developing.

Comments

Steve Buscemi is so good in this. I could watch a three hour montage of Steve Buscemi being confounded and not get bored.

Add a comment

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

Problemista (2024)

Dark, weird, poignant, and funny, this debut feature by Los Espookys star Julio Torres is a modern parable of the American Dream

8.6

The Guilty (2018)

A minimalist, razor-sharp thriller that will have you gasping for air.

9.0

The Glass Castle (2017)

A disjointed, but still touching, adaptation of the audacious family memoir

6.7

Betty Blue (1986)

Artistic frustration is only temporarily sated by love in this erotic, supposedly psychological, drama

6.5

The Beautiful Game (2024)

A heartwarming lesson in belonging and humility following the sports movie formula

7.0

Amar Singh Chamkila (2024)

Imtiaz Ali remembers the Elvis of Punjab in this vibrant musical biopic

7.4

Spermworld (2024)

People take family planning into their own hands in this fascinating look into sperm donation online

7.3

Parting Glances (1986)

An honest, domestic depiction of AIDS and the Manhattan gay community

7.3

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

A star-studded and riveting legal drama with a blockbuster feel.

8.1

The Greatest Hits (2024)

Music prolongs grief in this fairly standard indie romance

6.3

Curated by humans, not algorithms.

agmtw logo

© 2024 agoodmovietowatch, all rights reserved.