2008

Igor Korob, who is a businessman and owner of the large- scale business, once became the victim of the “shakedown”. To protect his property Igor has to face the outrage of 90ties of the twentieth century. Unexpectedly he finds himself in the jail, when he comes out his rights on the huge profitable project are lost.

But the most terrible is to follow. At night-time he suffers from the nightmares about King Solomon, at day time he is not able to trust anybody. The things happening to Igor could be the results of his heated fantasy. Then for the first time he starts to think, what means his fortune came by.

Personal author`s opinion: For the first time Ukrainian film impressed me so much. Probably mostly to the success of the film contributed inimitable Panin.

IMDB: 5,6/10.

Trailer:

Directed by:

Alexander Kiriyenko

Cast:

Andrey Panin, Alena Babenko, Alexey Gorbunov, Sergey Garmash, Inga Strelkova-Oboldina, Alexander Semchev, Alexey Petrenko, Victor Saraykin, Davia Babayev, Vitaliy Linetskiy

Production:

Kinovidrodzhennya, Ukraine, 2008

Feature:

>Thriller, Drama

Duration:

81 min.

Additional information:

International Movie Database

It is one more Russian expensive film made for the last several years. And possibly it could be the most successful one. The film`s budget amounted 20 mln USD, it was seen by the 5,5mln audience. Most of them highly appreciated the work of Andrey Kravchuk.

The film story is based on the real historical events. It is the story of struggle and love of the great admiral Alexander Vasilyevych Kolchak, that became famous at the times of the Russian Empire downfall. Even despite of the some historical inaccuracies “The Admiral” deserves to be called the film of high quality and repaid until the showing in cinemas.

The author`s personal opinion: I`ve heard a lot of various characteristics before the viewing: “boring”, “despondently”, “wimpy” intertwined with inspiring and positive opinions. But, as the saying goes, every man to his own taste. One more time I assured – it is quite true. As for my opinion – I could estimate it as weak 5.

IMDB rating: 7,1/10.

Trailer:

Directed by:

Andrey Kravchuk

Cast:

Konstantin Khabenskiy, Yelizaveta Boyarskaya, Sergey Bezrukov, Vladislav Vetrov, Yegor Beroyev, Anna Kovalchuk

Production:

Film Direction, Russia, 2008

Feature:

Drama, History, War

Duration:

123 min.

Additional information:

International Movie Database

Performing the traditional New Year`s call on the unknown phone number Andrey didn`t even suspected, that just after his return to Moscow, he had bought a magic starting packet of cellular communications operator. Getting through to the deserted in New Year`s eve Alyona, Andrey almost falls in love with her, but there exists a temporal problem. Alyona is celebrating coming 2008 year and Andrey is going to meet 2009.

Trying “to set a contact” with Alyona`s «future variant» he comes to know the terrible truth about the events, that appened in the end of 2008. Now the main goal of Andrey and all his friends – to prevent the awful tragedy and to turn into reality the meeting of Alyona and Andrey.

The author`s personal opinion: This New Year fairy tale couldn`t pretend to be called clever, but as for me its viewing was rather pleasant.

Trailer:

Directed by:

Yevgeniy Bedarev

Cast:

Valeriya Lanskaya, Maxim Matveyev, Yekaterina Malikova, Yevgeniy Slavskiy, Mariya Aronova, Dmitriy Dyuzhev, Myroslava Karpovych, Svetlana Kryuchkova, Mikhail Porechenkov, Roman Polyanskiy

Production:

Profit, Russia, 2008

Feature:

Comedy, Fantasy, Drama

Duration:

83 min.

Roman Shilo is not merely a 35-year –old underworld leader. At first sight he looks like the real “mobster” with no family, no friends and even without the beloved girl. It`s quite natural, that all his lifetime is dedicated to the work. But of a sudden the real triplet falls upon him: two daughters and one son. And only one child of them is his own - the eldest daughter Tanya, others are children of his former wife, whose unfortunate parachute jump caused the situation.

Roman`s life has to be changed. Little by little Roman becomes more and more loyal to the kids. Moreover their life even seems interesting to him. At the same time several things happen: the leading hero falls in love and appear some people, in whose interests there is no place for the Shilo`s children.

Author`s personal opinion: neither good nor bad. Firstly, as for me, this role doesn`t suits to Porechenkov, who looks more showy in the films like “Storm Gates”. And secondly the moments making the viewer`s laugh are to seldom in this “comedy”.

Trailer:

Directed by:

Sergey Bobrov

Cast:

Dmitriy Dedyushko, Yevgeniya Dobrovolskaya, Andjeline Karelina, Mikhail Porechenkov, Svetlana Khodchenkova, Darina Yushkevitch, Sergey Afanasyev, Victor Balabanov, Dmitriy Bobrov

Production:

Rekun-Cinema, Russia, 2008

Feature:

Comedy

Duration:

100 min.

The big time for the famous society lioness Kseniya Sobchak came, for she had acted in one more film to the joy of her few fans. Unlike the “flashing comedy “The Most Funny film” here the actress plays a bigger role, but the amount of positive emotions caused by her acting is still not great.

According to the plot story Arabella is the host of the reality show “No Sex”, which main point is to help the participants to avoid sex with their half. However, the aim of the skilful TV men is to achieve the copulation. And the host is first one, who has to achieve that goal. But in the film there are also the secondary heroes, that are hardly trying to do something. But as for me, it`s difficult to understand, what they want.

Author`s personal opinion: This “brilliant” work deserves 1 of 10. Completely untalented acting of people, that could be hardly called “actors”, the stupid story and the absolute lack of humour – are the raisins of the “film”. I`m sorry for my frank opinion, but the film seems to be great bad taste example. You don`t believe me? See the trailer!

Trailer:

Directed by:

Alexey Gordeyev

Cst:

Kirill Kanahin, Maxim Konovalov, Kseniya Sobchak, Alexander Bashirov

Production:

Central Partnership, Russia, 2008

Feature:

absent

Duration:

95 min.

Russia in 90ties of the past century was politically and socially instable with windfall money and criminal shoot-outs. The power and business can live in peace just till the moment, when appear officials at the same time trying to seem patriots and to turn the money flow pro domo sua. One of such “hawks” – is Koretskiy (Aleander Baluyev). He starts the “crusade” against the authoritative business owner of the independent TV channel “Infocar”, Platon Makovskiy (Vladimir Mashkov). Firstly Mashkov is given a possibility “to share”, but after his attempts to step in politics – he is blown up. The investigation held by the too much honest and zealous officer Shmatko (Andrey Krasko) clear, that Platon Makovskiy is alive…

The scandal Pavel Lungin`s film was rumoured long before its première. The picture cinematized the book “Big Share” written by Yuliy Durov. Many are of the opinion, that the real prototype of the Makovskiy is the disgraced businessman Boris Berezovskiy, cause Juliy Durov very long was his “right hand”. But Makovskiy is more likely to be the summarized portrait of the authoritative businessman from 90ties. Koretskiy brilliantly played by Baluyev is the exact copy of the certain security officers, that overfilled the chain of command then. “The Oligarch” is brave and dynamic film precisely showing the realities of that time.

Directed by:

Pavel Lungin

Cast:

Vladimir Mashkov, Alexander Baluyev, Mariya Mironova, Andrey Krasko, Levani Uchaneyshvilli, Mikhail Vasserbaum, Sergey Yushkevich, Alexander Samoylenko, Natalya Kolyakanova, Vladimir Gusev

Production:

arte France Cinéma, Catherine Dussart Productions (CDP), France 2 Cinéma, Gimages, Film company STV, Kominter, Magnat, Network Movie, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF), Germany - Russia - France, 2002

Feature:

Drama, Thriller, Criminal, Detective

Duration:

123 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.

In June of 2007 Zemfira Ramazanova said goodbye to her old repertoire. The outdoor concert in Moscow Green Theatre became the final point of her tour. That concert became the basis of the Renata Litvinova film. The program of the concert is mixed with the video recoding pieces made by the fans of Zemfira on her various concerts. Quite unexpected jump into the crowd of fans from the stage, the show in the nightclub in the bra, the exciting and sincere singing of the ballade “Inside me” – all these moments shot by the simple shaking mobiles make the presence effect. But certainly the most interesting frames – are the interview of Zemfira to Renata Lytvinova. The singer`s thoughts about the sense of life, about love, talent and fame, her admirers and herself create the portrait of the exceptional talented girl from Ufa, that conquered the hearts of millions.

Trailer:

Directed by:

Renata Lytvinova

Cast:

Zemfira Ramazanova

Production:

Miro International Pty Ltd., Russia, 2008

Feature:

Music, Concert

Duration:

76 min.

It`s not easy to categorize the new Russian film “Indigo”, that came out in March 2008. It pretends to be the fantasy thriller, but sometimes it looks like comedy. And the most positive emotions are not caused by the jokes of the film, but by the stupid way ther look like on the screen. In general the film could be called the completely failed comedy, and we`ve got used to such phenomena.

The main point of the film is also hardly understandable. It`s not surprizing, that Russian director Roman Prygunov decided to make a film on the popular up-to-date topic of Indigo children, with the intend to create a parody (read: copy) of the stupid American film “X-Men”. And even the film cast was not able to improve the situation. Mikhail Yefremov was really great but… Gosha Kutsenko became the jokes target, because of the numerous films he played during a year.

Trailer:

Directed by:

Roman Prygunov

Cast:

Ivan Yankovsky, Markus Shtandel, Artem Tkachenko, Mikhail Yefremov, Mariya Shukshina , Gosha Kutsenko, Yelena Drobysheva, Lev Prygunov

Production:

VOX Film / Real-Dakota, Russia, 2008

Feature:

Fantasy, Thriller,Comedy

Duration:

95 min.

Vadik (Kharlamov) gets to heaven being drugged on his own wedding. His “personal file” is considered by the honourable old man. In the slow discussion of his life with the new friend Vadik tries to find in it some sense. But there is nothing more than hard-drinking, shoot-outs and lecherous deeds.

The scenario of “The Best Film” is not worth retelling, not that film plot is funny. The director-debutant Kirill Kuzin will not stick in the memory as the box-office hit creator. This film is one of the most awful, vulgar, trivial and disgraceful works the one could imagine. The attempt to make the Russian version of “Scary Movie”, the sparkling parody on the popular films, failed. Even the crowds of promoted by show business characters (like Dmitriy Nagiev, Boris Mioseev, Vladimir Turchinskiy and popular stars from “Comedy Club”) could not shelter the film. It is not funny interesting or creative, it is entirely vacuous. There is an evidence commercial project exploiting the TNT stars popularity. The “The Best Film” could be compared with the household bin full of perishables. If you do not press “Stop” in time, you would suffocate with the terrible smell.

Trailer:

Directed by:

Kirill Kuzin

Cast:

Garik Kharlamov, Pavel Volya, Mikhail Galusyan, Armen Dzhigarkhanyan, Dmitriy Nagiyev , Rimma Markova, Vladimir Turchinskiy, IosifBuyanovskiy, Boris Moiseyev, Valeriy Barinov

Production:

Comedy Club production, Ego production, Russia, 2008

Feature:

Comedy, Farce

Duration:

106 min.