The spell is on me. The spell of watching terrible terrible Russian movies that I don’t even want to watch. I don’t know how it happens actually. Magic. Black magic. I watched “Zhmurki” today…
Directed by: Aleksei Balabanov
Genres: Comedy, Thriller
Cast: Aleksei Panin, Dmitri Dyuzhev, Nikita Mikhalkov, Sergei Makovetsky, Viktor Sukhorukov, Dmitri Pevtsov, Kirill Pirogov, Aleksei Serebryakov, Andrei Merzlikin, Yuri Stepanov, Grigori Siyatvinda, Anatoli Zhuravlyov, Garik Sukachyov, Andrei Panin, Aleksandr Bashirov
IMDB raintg: 5.1
My rating: 2.0 [rate 2.0]
There were few better movies released recently and I started to think that movie industry is getting better in Russia. If it does, than movies like this are stones on the way. This film should’ve never been released. It should’ve never been promoted. And I should’ve never watched it.
First of all, it is really poor attempt to match some of the best movies in the genre of criminal action “Snatch.” (overall gang activity), “Lock, stock, and two smoking barrels” (overall gang activity, as well as a gangster with a kid), “Payback” (bullet extraction), “Pulp Fiction” (two gangsters are after a precious case for their boss), “Reservoir Dogs” (Simon is trying to copy maniacal Michael Madsen. I even thought he would cut cop’s ear when he went for the knife.). But it lacks the talent, class and style. This movie is as stupid and simple as it can get.
Secondly, this movie takes the problem of all Russian movies – dialogues – to the extreme. Not even one person talks like a real life person. It sounds more like a bad soap opera – all emotions are overdone, pauses are artificial, and the whole thing sounds very unnatural. It’s almost like every person is waiting for a signal to talk. And the voices they use… Eh, yuck.
Thirdly, this movie is truly pointless. It is not entertaining. Neither it is educational. Not a historic one either. I don’t message it was suppose to bring. In closing two minutes the idea of ex-mafia guys being in current government was suggested, but this was not connected with the rest of the movie in any way and it is also too obvious – not a secret. Everyone knows it.
If everything was so bad, than you might wonder why did I give this movie 2 out of 10 than? Music was not bad. The soundtrack reminded me a couple of other successful Russian movies. That got a point. Another point was for a couple of jokes/funny scenes that didn’t change my attitude towards the film, but made it a tiny-miny bit better.
If you have a choice – skip this film. Don’t watch it. It’s a waste of time.
Your comments don’t really mean anything to a russian public, you have to be a russian born to understand the irony and the humor of this movie. Basically all im saying here, i dont want to hear any of your bullshit comments that you give this movie a 2 out of 10.
I am Russian born and raised. I’ve spent only the last ten years outside of Russia. And I wasn’t isolated either.
The Web is large. Find yourself another website to read then. This is my website and I say what I want to say here. And I wanted to say was that this movie sucks and blows. If you have a different opinion – that’s fine with me. But coming here and trying to shut me up is a totally non-sense move on your behalf.
Half a nice day.
the best of the best!!!!!
ooooo, look at me now….cool!
Hi Leonid, I came across this blog accidentaly but I am really surprised that you give this movie such a low rating.
I am not russian, (from bosnia actually but I speak some russian), and I thought zhmurki was very funny. Doesn’t exactly have the depth of a Tarkovsky flick, but it’s a light satire movie, with some recognizable funny characters like the guy with his beloved son Vladika and the use of interesting expressions and dialogues such as “financial pyramid”, “don’t mess with the doctor”, “get back to ethiopia”, etc.
Of course I don’t think its great but its way better than most movies I’ve seen.
And I would really like to know what kind of movies you like if you gave this one a 2/10.
emir,
thanks for stopping by…
In the post above I mentioned a few movies of the same genre, which I do like.