Director: Armando Iannucci
By Alex Watson
The death of one of the most brutal dictators in history hardly seems like comic fodder. Somehow Armando Iannucci's The Death of Stalin emerges as the one funniest and most original comedies you will ever see. Dark humoured to the point of being almost shocking in the closing stages, Iannucci shows the lengths men of power will go to secure the biggest position of all. It is also a throwback to the type of political chicanery we seldom see nowadays.
When Josef Stalin (Adrian McLoughlin) dies from a fatal heart attack, his cabinet is soon thrust into a difficult situation. Deputy Malenkov (Jeffrey Tambor), Spymaster Lavrentiey Beria (Simon Russell Beale) and Moscow party leader Nikita Khrushchev (Steve Buscemi) all attempt to usurp one another to get their hands on the big prize. Scandals, blackmail and the added pressure of Stalin's drunk son Vasily (Rupert Friend) and unstable daughter Svetlana (Andrea Riseborough) are few obstacles to be faced.
Iannucci firmly captures the misery and terror that gripped 1953 Moscow, all around the person you spoke to could inform on you to the authorities and as a result, everyone feels paranoid. During the opening scene, Stalin requests a copy of a live classical music performance that has not been recorded. Cue music director Andreyev (Paddy Considine) attempt to prevent both the orchestra and audience from leaving- even this small task involves people fearing for their lives. The Death of Stalin has such a unique balance of raw humour and complete shock that it makes you feel guilty laughing. His comrades at first are simply attempting to get on with business, but as it becomes clear each of them has their own agenda, things get complex quite quickly. Beria, in particular, is happy to manipulate his supposed 'friend' Malenkov into his bidding under the guise of helping him achieve power!
This struggle for power is what makes Iannucci's picture so sharp. The persona of each wannabe leader is perfectly exemplified, Khrushchev is a sly weasel whose not afraid to play underhanded, Malenkov is a vain yet weak-willed temporary leader more obsessed with how his portrait will look. Beria, on the other hand, is a more sickening and frightful creature. A vulgar, pot-bellied rapist who openly brags about the tortures and murders he has committed, Khrushchev is keen for this man to not get what he desires. Throughout loyalties are always questioned and unions are made and broken in pretty quick succession. Stalin's Russia was not a place of trust and all the main comrades know someone has to go on the block to gain power. Things are also given a shakeup in the form of Jason Isaac's Yorkshire accented General Georgy Zhukov. A blunt and exceedingly irritated officer, Zhukov is responsible for some of the movie's best one-liners "Did Coco Chanel take a shit on your head?"
The Death of Stalin is a movie that absolutely captures how a single word could lead to someone winding up dead. It also shows the lengths that men of power will go to in order to defeat an opponent. Khrushchev is definitely the politician in this affair, but Beria is a man with no concept of a 'clean fight' and some of his methods displayed are just frightening. Throughout the writing by Iannucci, David Schneider and Ian Martin is both bold and daring and they are able to take the most surreal situation and make into some of the funniest and witty banter a British comedy can offer. However, all laughs are thrown out the window during the finale as the movies more serious and shocking is revealed.
The triumvirate of leadership also presents three excellent performances led by Simon Russell Beale as the reprehensible Beria. Mainly known for his London stage word, Beale plays this spymaster with such vigour that he really gets under the skin of this character. The sheer pride he projects when joking about the latest woman he's raped is uncomfortable, to say the least. Steve Buscemi is the perfect choice to play Khrushchev and few actors could have achieved quite the garrulous effect that this character has. A man who fights with his words, Buscemi makes full use of the character's ability to swim through the different social channels. Jeffrey Tambor might have recently made headlines for his alleged sexual misconduct, but his clown-like take on Malenkov is equally strong. A leader who's already been cut loose, Tambor shows a politician clinging to what little status he still has. Jason Isaacs however, almost steals the show as the foul-mouthed Zhukov and the sheer zing he puts into each insult guarantees laughs.
The Death of Stalin is a comedy that will amuse and stun audiences in equal measure, but you will not see a comedy quite like this for some time.
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