The Death of Stalin

2018 historical comedy

Rating: 16/20

Plot: Following the death of the lovable dictator, his cronies jockey for power.

I've read that Russia has banned this movie. That's too bad because it's hilarious!

Armando Iannucci has done something pretty remarkable here. The Death of Stalin, in this seemingly effortless way, blends historical drama about an oppressed people and power-grabbing, back-stabbing wannabe tyrants and the death of this guy who was about as much of a force as an individual can be in a country with this irreverent, absurd, and really wacky humor. The way the two co-exist transforms that absurdity into drama and the drama into absurdity. The very real historical figures are dragged, almost kicking and screaming, through the very real historical situations, but it's like they're Stooges in a Marx brothers' movie. There's an energy to the history lesson that is exhilarating, and if there's anything at all to be learned, it's that there's a large amount of absurdity in politics and the desire to control or have power.

The cast is excellent. Being historically illiterate, I won't pretend to know whether any of these people--other than Adrian McLoughlin who played Stalin and McLoughlin's mustache that played Stalin's mustache--actually looked like the historical figures they were playing, but that really doesn't matter. Iannucci wasn't going for authenticity here, and that's clear in his instruction that none of the performers even attempt a Russian accent of any kind. So you've got Steve Buscemi looking and sounding just like Steve Buscemi and Jeffrey Tambor making that same face that Jeffrey Tambor always makes. It seems like the sort of thing that might be a complete distraction, but it reminds the viewer right off the bat that the primary function of this is to make you laugh and that any history learned from the thing is just extra.

The entire cast struck a perfect tone, but I was especially impressed with Simon Russell Beale as a manic Lavrenti Beria in a Best Supporting Actor caliber performance. Buscemi, Tambor, Michael Palin, Jason Isaacs--they just fit so naturally into this wacky production, almost like they're a comedy troupe that has been doing this kind of thing together for years. The verbal humor is fast and furious, trying to keep up with Stalin's assassination squads, but there's also a lot of visual humor and even some moments that you'd describe as slapstick. There's one right off the bat as two of the characters are introduced vigorously chest-thumping like college basketball players after a big win. Repeatedly. I don't think I ever learned any 20th Century world history in high school or college, so I'm not sure if Nikita Khrushchev was a chest-thumper or not. Maybe he was.

This packed with so much humor that I really feel like I need to see it again to catch more. It was the same feeling I had with Iannucci's In the Loop. Also like In the Loop is this almost terrifying way that the movie, even though the action takes place decades ago, contains ideas that still feel relevant in today's political climate.

So a movie that can horrify and tickle, astound with a visual flair and a big score, and somehow manage to nail this almost impossible high-wire act has to be applauded. And there's part of me that feels like if I don't say nice things about this movie, somebody's going to come to my house and execute me.

I'm sorry. I probably shouldn't joke about that.