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The Second World War is in its full swing. The coal barge sails through the Northern seas. The ship is conned by the captain Tikhon and the sailor Anatoliy. Group of fascists making an ambush force Anatoliy to extradite the hiding captain. Anatoliy is given a difficult choice: whether to be killed or to tell where his captain is. The young sailor chooses the second one.

There have passed thirty years. Anatoliy is living on the island, which gave him shelter some time ago. He is the grey-headed aged man now, being also the local legend. He is given a gift to heal people, but he still prays for forgiveness of his thirty years old sin. He has lost the hope to be forgiven, but…

The film could be called one of the most considerable contemporary art statements. Pavel Lungin has created the surprising and unexpected comparing with his films “Distant relatives” ,“The Oligarch” and “The Wedding”. “The Island” consists of: the graceful redemption story, incredible operator`s work and the stunning Petr Mammonov.

Trailer:

Directed by:

Pavel Lungin

Cast:

Petr Mammonov, Victor Sukhorukov, Dmitriy Dyuzhev, Yuriy Kuznetsov, Victoriya Isakova, Nina Usatova, Yana Yesipovich, Olga Demidova, Timofey Tribuntsev, Alexey Zelenskiy

Production:

TV channel «Rossiya», Pavel Lungin`s studio, Russia, 2006

Feature:

Drama

Duration:

112 min.

For the Russian Empire the 19th century was quite uneasy. The governor-general Khrapov was killed in the the special train Moscow-St. Petersburg. The guards let the murderer go past, because they were sure, that Khrapov`s guest was the State Counsellor Fandorin. Naturally, Fandorin (this time played by Oleg Menshikov) had no business to do that. He starts his own investigation. Simultaneously the Department of Petersburg police representative prince Gleb Pozharskiy (Nikita Mikhalkov) is also looking for the murderer. Both of them picked up a scent of the terrorist group “BG” (one of the terrorists – Konstantin Khabenskiy). But who leads and coordinates the group?

“The State Counsellor” by Philip Yankovskiy cinematized the exciting detective story written by Boris Akunin. The project was produced by Nikita Mikhalkov. He also brilliantly played Pozharskiy in the film. Exactly the talks of Fandorin and Pozharskiy about the destiny of Russia could be considered the main scenes of the “The State Counsellor”. Pozharskiy, who is pompous and patriotic speaks about imperial views of one of his own. Fandorin is ironical and diverse, he truly thinks more than speaks and isn`t fond of demagogy. The detective story fascinates and intrigues, but it seems to be a bit unfinished. As s a whole the film could be classified like high quality domestic detective. But the idea to put into the soundtrack in the ending terrible “patriotic” howling in chanson style doesn`t seem good.

Trailer:

Directed by:

Philip Yankovskiy

Cast:

Oleg Menshikov, Nikita Mikhalkov, Konstantin Khabenskiy, Vladimir Mashkov, Oleg Tabakov, Fedor Bondarchuk, Mariya Mironova, Mikhail Yefremov, Emilia Spivak, Oxana Fandera, Alexey Gorbunov

Production:

Nikita Mikhalkov «TRITE» Studio, Russia, 2005

Feature:

Drama, Detective

Duration:

125 min.

In the year 1877 the The Russo-Turkish War was in full swing. The State Counsellor (Yegor Beroyev) escaped from captivity and on his way he came to know the signifacant information – about Turkish spy known as Anwar efendi in a Russian headquarters. Furthermore, the Counsellor meets the brave young lady, Varvara Suvorova (Olga Krasko), going to front to her fiance Peten`ka. After arrival to headquarters Fandorin and Suvorova started their investigation. It was quite difficult to understand, who was Anvar, for everyone was under suspicion.

The Turkish Gambit – is the creative filming of the Boris Akunin`s book of the same name full of famous actors. Unfortunately the wide promotion on the “1st TV Channel” disserved to the film. The exciting detective was represented as the super blockbuster, that resulted in the audience partially disappointment. The film has gladden the eyes due to the brilliant acting of Yegor Beroyev and OlgaKrasko. By the way, the ending of the film will surprize also the Akunin`s book readers.

Trailer:

Directed by:

Dzhanik Faiziyev

Cast:

Yegor Beroyev, Olga Krasko, Marat Basharov, Vladimir Ilyin, Dmitriy Pevtsov, Victor Verzhbitskiy, Alexander Baluyev, Alexey Guskov, Gosha Kutsenko, Alexander Oleshko

Production:

First channel, «TRITE» Studio, Russia, 2005

Feature:

Detective, Adventure, Action

Duration:

130 min.

Nevertheless Kostya Kot has survived. He serves his fifteen years for that stupid attempted robbery. Dimon Oshparenniy certainly suffers from his betrayal. He has moved ahead with his legal business and helps his ex-partner get out of the prison. Kot has got now the new name and new “boomer”. But from the very first minutes of freedom he understands, that his prospects are not so good. All his pretty life, plans and love stayed behind in the first film, when he had left for Moscow to criminal night “date” from his beloved woman.

Once in a blue moon the second part of the successful picture could be better, than first one. In this case Petr Buslov decided to change the genre of the film. So, if you expect to see in the second part the criminal adventures of the favourite heroes, you`ll be disappointed. And, if you are ready to dig deeper, you`ll like it. And the Vdovitchenko`s hero during the two hours proves to the viewer the truth: he who had once turned off the right road risks to find himself in the desperate labyrinth. Where he can only dream about the faraway country Goa.

Trailer:

Directed by:

Petr Buslov

Cast:

Vladimir Vdovitchenkov, Andrey Merzlikin, Svetlana Ustinova, Nikolay Olyalin, Alexander Tsurkan, Felix Antipov, Yuriy Kolokolnikov, Anna Churina, Alexander Golubev, Konstantin Strelnikov

Production:

STV Film Company, Pigmalion Production, Russia,2006

Feature:

Drama, Criminal, Action

Duration:

110 min.

The life of young and talented provincial disk jockey Denis Orlov is more like a fairy tale. He has got completely everything: success, money, beloved girl, true friends as well as ambitions. Denis dreams about moving to the capital of Russia, where he expect to meet the unlimited career opportunities. His dreams break, when guy firstly decides to participate in the drugs deal in order to earn some extra money.

The life of the hero changes very fast as soon as he becomes the member of the gangster`s grouping of Verner. Denis is afraid to lose the career, his girl and even his own life. To stay alive after he spoiled the drugs operation Denis has to clear by working his debt to the gangsters. The only his desire now is to break away from this horror!

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Directed by:

Valeriy Todorovskiy

Cast:

Maxim Matveyev, Fedor Bondarchuk, Alexey Serebryakov, Igor Voynarovskiy, Anton Shagin, Yekaterina Vilkova, Sergey Volobuyev, Yevgeniya Hirivskaya, Sergey Pirnyak, Denis Balandin, Denis Yasik

Production:

Krasnaya strela, Russia, 2007

Feature:

Drama, Criminal, Detective

Duration:

124 min.

Frankly, widely-advertised before the demonstration in 2006 “Hunt for Piranha”, was not the film everybody liked. Mostly the audience disliked the trite technique, when in the film`s ending the superhero kills hundred of enemies in no time and stays alive. But the whole impression from the film is quite good.

At least we have learned to make films! Surely, this fact was understood before the “piranha”, but the film of Andrey Kavun strengthened this opinion.

According to the story of the film, the special subdivision member Kiril is going to taiga with his colleague Olga in order to render the dangerous arms on the China border. But situation goes out of the control and as he result the couple together with the rest of uninvited guests is caught by Prokhor, who is according to his words the master of taiga hunting for people. Obviously the hero of Mironov couldn`t help of chasing for this “batch” of targets.

Trailer:

Directed by:

Andrey Kavun

Cast:

Vladimir Mashkov, Yevgeniy Mironov, Svetlana Antonova, Sergey Garmash, Andrey Merzlikin, Mikhail Yefremof, Viktoriya Isakova, Alexey Gorbunov

Directed by:

Central Partnership, Russia, 2006

Feature:

Action, Drama,Adventure

Duration:

125 min.

Sergey, the top-manager of the big company, probably couldn`t expect such sharp and fast turn of his life. He has lost both family and work and even his house. Landing on the street level he met his old acquaintance, the student of his year with the same way of life. The leading character decided to find a job with the help of the employment agency. He was offered a job and was ready to try…

I doubt, whether he could imagine, that job description of the profession named “listener” includes the listening of bad language and getting his lumps from the nervous Fedulov`s family members. But this makes the work more and more profitable! The business blossomed out just until the family bankruptcy.

“The Listener” is a quite merry family comedy adorned by the galaxy of famous actors.

Trailer:

Directed by:

Vladimir Zaykin

Cast:

Dmitry Dyuzhev,Mikhail Yefremov, Lyubov Tolkalina, Yevgeniy Steblov, Nikita Vysotsky, Natalya Kolyakanova

Production:

Gorkogo film studio, Russia, 2004

Feature:

Comedy

Duration:

91 min.

Additional information:

Internet Movie Database

Yevgeniy Vetrov is a successful neurosurgeon with vast experience and great skills. It`s quite nalural, that development of the career and business acknowledgement meets the competitors` envy and desire to ruin his life. In the significant for the Vetrov`s clinic day he looses his wife, brutally killed in the own place, and falls under suspicion of law-enforcement agency. Moreover, there exists the evidence of crime stating the doctor`s guilt.

As you can understand from the film`s name he escapes being transported under guard to Siberia. His aim is to find the committer of a crime and punish him with his own hands, if justice is unable. The experienced detective Pakhomov has another aim –at any rate to find Vetrov. Only he wants to do this for private purposes.

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Directed by:

Yegor Konchalovsky

Cast:

Yevgeniy Mironov, Alexey Serebryakov, Viktoriya Tolstoganova, Lyubov Tolkalina , Alexander Mokhov, Yuriy Belyayev, Andrey Smolyakov, Sergey Astakhov, Natalya Arinbasova

Production:

Central Partnership, Russia, 2005

Feature:

Drama,Adventure, Action, Detective

Duration:

110 min.

As I`ve already told in one of my previous posts, I `m not against Gosha Kutsenko. Moreover, I admire his diligence and ability to act in several films at the same time. Thus for the last six years the actor played in thirty films, in the majority of them – he was a star or co-star.

This time is not an exception. The hero of Gosha, Max meets the French princess find herself in Russia due to her temper. His first intention to use this acquaintance exceptionally for business purposes collapse, because very soon he falls in love, that benets him rather firmly.

In general the film is a quite mediocre remake of the William Wyler`s “Roman Holiday” made in 1953. But nevertheless it succeeded to collect more than 7,5 mln USD for the two months being showing in cinemas, that thrice exceeds the film`s budget.

Trailer:

Directed by:

Alexander Chernyayev

Cast:

Yelena Polyakova, Gosha Kutsenko, Tatyana Vasilyeva, Gerard Depardieu, Oskar Kuchera, Nina Usatova

Production:

НТV-Kino, Russia, 2008

Feature:

Comedy, Drama

Duration:

96 min.

Together with some other Russian films made during the last five-six years “Flash.ka” is a good reason to criticize the newest history of cinematograph creators because of their complete lack of talent.

As for me, “Flash.ka”could be classified as unobtrusive drama with the elements of action, but not as garbage as the hot-tempered critics would like to present it. But the film story fairly could be called banal. Andrey, big company coworker comes to know about the unfaithfulness of his own wife, being also the manager of the company he works in. Threatening by the weapon the guy decides to escape together with the company account manager Kotik and valuable flash disk containing the information about 320 mln USD machination.

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Directed by:

Georgiy Shengeliya

Cast:

Yekaterina Guseva, Yevgeniy Stychkin, Andrey Tashkov, Ilya Shakunov

Production:

Vox Video, Russia, 2006

Feature:

Drama, Criminal

Duration:

105 min.