Intelligent, splendid political satire with Monty Pythonesque touches

Rating: 9/10 (9 May 2018)

I had never heard of director Armando Iannucci but I take my hat off to him for an excellent script, a wonderful sense of dark humor, and for extracting truly top drawer performances from Russell Beale (absolutely fabulous as Lavrenti Beria), Michael Palin (as Molotov) and Steve Buscemi (as Nikita Kruschev).
With a mainly British ensemble, the Monty Pythonesque touch about this dark comedy is hardly surprising. The best part is the way each individual in the Soviet leadership is saving his skin while trying to further his interests i.e. rise to the top. The way they differ about things but ultimately all vote "unanimously" is hilarious, as is the way that Stalin and Beria draw up "lists" of people to be executed.
As the saying goes, "the greatest truths are told in jest." It is certainly the case in THE DEATH OF STALIN. Of course, it is not historically faithful, of course it is a kind of spoof that comes out at a curious time when Brits and Russians trade expulsions of embassy personnel; and yet, it nails something about the depravity of those times, and of the MAN OF STEEL (Stalin) who is believed to be responsible for the deaths of some 20 million people.
Given the scarcity of thought-provoking movies these days, I was very happy to have watched this film which I see as a minor masterpiece and possibly the best movie I have watched this year.