The Death of Stalin
Composite Score: 82.37
Starring: Steve Buscemi, Simon Russell Beale, Jeffrey Tambor, Andrea Riseborough, Olga Kurylenko, Tom Brooke, Paddy Considine, Adrian McLoughlin, Michael Palin, and Jason Isaacs
Director: Armando Iannucci
Writers: Fabien Nury, Armando Iannucci, David Schneider, and Ian Martin
Genres: Comedy, Drama, History, Dark Comedy
MPAA Rating: R for language throughout, violence, and some sexual references
Box Office: $24.65 million worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
The Death of Stalin is the 2017 dark comedy/political satire about the death of Josef Stalin and its aftermath among the top Soviets in the USSR. It is based upon the graphic novel by Fabien Nury and Thierry Robin. It details the planning and execution of Stalin’s funeral and the many political machinations of the various Soviet leaders during that time, focusing on Khrushchev (Steve Buscemi), Beria (Simon Russell Beale), and Melenkov (Jeffrey Tambor). The film was nominated for two BAFTAs, for Writing and Outstanding British Film, and has become a seemingly instant cult classic, beloved by most people who have seen it, just with limited viewership.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
For some people, dark comedy just doesn’t work, even when it’s about people who are responsible for millions of deaths, like Josef Stalin. Making light of the dead just rubs them the wrong way. If you are in that camp, this film will not be for you. The comedy is consistently black in its nature, making light of Stalin’s death and pointing out the absurdity of the reality that was going on at that time. Seeing a bunch of grown men struggle to carry a dead body with reverence without alerting anyone is hilarious to some, but off-putting to others.
In addition to its not universally funny humor, the film does also contain some historical inaccuracies. To that point, the film is a fictional retelling based on true events and should not be watched as if it were a documentary. At the same time, people do often expect historical films to be fairly accurate, so inaccuracies will inevitably upset some viewers. If you are an expert on Soviet history or looking to become an expert on Soviet history, this film might not be the one to base your learning off of.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
Personally, I think this film is really funny, especially for people within its wheelhouse – fans of dark comedy and history. The historic elements of the film keep the audience engaged because they know who ends up on top, so they want to see how he’s going to work it all out. At the same time, the humor cuts through the tension of the time that inevitably spills over into the film’s narrative. A historic drama about this time period probably would not have the same success because the tension would be so high, but there would be no subversion of expectations in the process.
In addition to being a genre-blending success, The Death of Stalin is one of the fullest films I have seen in a while that doesn’t feel overdone. Every actor has a role to play and is given their moment to shine in the film, both comedically and dramatically. Obviously, Tambor, Buscemi, and Beale all shine in their leading roles, being masters at blending comedy and drama at will. Other standouts include Olga Kurylenko as the musician implicitly responsible for Stalin’s hemorrhage, the vindictive and talented Maria Veniaminovna Yudina, whom she plays with a tragic confidence, Michael Palin in as Monty-Python-esque a role as he has ever played as Vyacheslav Molotov, and the scene-stealing Jason Isaacs as Field Marshal Zhukov. The man had maybe ten minutes of screen-time, but he used every second of it to make himself one of the most iconic characters to ever come out of a dark comedy.
Chock-full of its characteristic dark humor and impeccable acting performances, The Death of Stalin makes a strong case to be included among the Greatest Films of All Time. Its brand of humor and fictionalization will not make all audiences happy, but in its niche, the film will remain successful and iconic, full of memorable moments and characters. This film is available to stream for free on AMC+ or with ads on Tubi or to rent on most streaming platforms. Check it out if you haven’t already.
