Review of The Death of Stalin (2017) by Filipe C — 22 Apr 2018
Armando Iannucci will go down as one of the greatest satirists of our time. He practically dedicated a life in entertainment to it, from The Thick of It all the way through Veep. In Death of Stalin he pulls the rug on eastern politics, deconstructing the messy power moves following the (very undignified) death of the titular Russian leader.
What impresses the most, perhaps, is how this comedy is as funny as it is bone chilling. The filmmaker doesn't pull any punches in the depiction of the brutality towards an oppressed people, whose lives were only as valuable as their allegiance to the party.
The plot is masterfully orchestrated and moves at a brisk pace. As the body count increases and the power shifts from Khrushchev to Beria and back, there's a sense of looming threat, which is often undercut by Iannucci's deliciously sardonic dialog.
The stellar cast, which includes names like Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey Tambor, Simon Beale and Paddy Considine, does the rest. The Death of Stalin isn't an easy watch by all means, but considering the current political climate, it's an essential one.
This review of The Death of Stalin (2017) was written by Filipe C on 22 April 2018.
The Death of Stalin has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
