Director: Armando Iannucci
Cast: Steve Buscemi, Jason Isaacs, Jeffrey Tambor, Andrea Riseborough, Rupert Friend, Michael Palin
Rating: 15
Running Time: 106 mins
Release Date: 20th October
THE DEATH OF STALIN focuses on the power-grabbing tactics and backstabbing goings on as the top members of the Communist Party vie for power in the immediate aftermath of Joseph Stalin’s death.Â
Armando Iannucci has always been great at mixing drama and comedy, just look at his previous works like The Thick of It, and nothing proves this better than The Death of Stalin. The film manages to master the humour as well as the more serious aspects of the events taking place in Moscow.
With an all-star cast, The Death of Stalin is full of fantastic performances, especially those of Rupert Friend, Steve Buscemi, Jason Isaacs and Andrea Riseborough. With actors speaking in their own accents, it can take a bit of getting used to, but it works brilliantly in this comedy. The film finds the perfect balance of comedy and drama. Of course, the story focuses on some dark times in Russia’s history and The Death of Stalin doesn’t deal with these issues lightly. It is truly impressive to find a film so hilarious yet also discussing the serious tones of the story so well.
Overall, The Death of Stalin is without a doubt the comedy of 2017. Written and directed so well by Armando Iannucci, the whole film shines from start to finish and is a truly memorable movie.
