Leviafan

Plot synopsis:
Miss Martin, the CEO of Tri-Oceanic Corp., hires geologist Steven Beck to supervise an undersea mining operation for six months. The crew consists of members Dr. Glen 'Doc' Thompson, Elizabeth 'Willie' Williams, Buzz 'Sixpack' Parrish, Justin Jones, Tony 'DeJesus' Rodero, Bridget Bowman and G.P. Cobb. While working outside their deep sea station in a pressure suit, Sixpack discovers a Soviet shipwreck, Leviathan. The crew salvage a safe from Leviathan, finding records detailing the deaths of several crew members as well as a video log from the captain. Sixpack also finds a flask of vodka which he shares with Bowman. Doc and Beck review the captain's video, which describes puzzling medical problems amongst his crew. They also discover that Leviathan was scuttled.
The following morning, Sixpack feels sick and Doc discovers lesions along his back. He dies a few hours later, but Doc and Beck keep it quiet to avoid a panic. Doc checks the crew to confirm no one else is sick, but does not have the chance to examine Bowman. While Beck and Doc confer with Martin on the surface, Bowman begins feeling ill. She finds Sixpack's corpse, which is mutating and growing. When Bowman's hair starts falling out, she realizes the same thing is happening to her. Beck and Doc request emergency evacuation, but Martin reports a severe storm on the surface that will delay evacuation for 12 hours.
Doc finds that Bowman killed herself. Her body is taken to sickbay, where it merges with Sixpack's. When the crew discovers the mutating bodies, they decide to dump both of them in the ocean. As they are about to "flush" the cadavers, the body bag begins squirming. Believing someone inside may be alive, the crew opens it. The creature inside claws Cobb before they eject it. They realize that Leviathan was experimenting on its unwitting crew with mutagens. The mutagen was mixed with the vodka that the crew, and later Sixpack and Bowman, drank. The ship was scuttled when the experiment escaped control.
A tentacle was severed when the corpses were ejected; it mutates into a lamprey-like creature that attacks DeJesus in the kitchen. Jones seals the kitchen's pressure doors and goes for help. He asks Cobb to watch the door, but when he searches for a weapon, the creature assimilates DeJesus and rips its way out of the kitchen. It then grows tentacles that attack the crew.
The creature attacks the medical bay, devouring blood and plasma from the cooler. This inspires Beck to use a pint of his blood to attract the beast, then attempt to flush it the same way they did with the Sixpack and Bowman creature. Doc ejects the escape pods so that no one can escape and risk bringing the mutagen to the surface. Beck consults with Martin for emergency evacuation. Martin assures them that they will not be left behind, but that she cannot carry out the rescue because of a hurricane.
Cobb's injuries worsen, causing him to mutate and infect Doc. Williams escapes as Beck and Jones try trapping the creature. They escape to another part of the station. The crew tries accessing weather information through the computer, but it is blocked. Williams asks the computer for a financial report from the company and they discover that Tri-Oceanic Corporation has declared them dead, labeling it an accident.
The creature damages vital systems, causing the pressure to drop and an implosion to occur. They decide to use their dive suits to escape. The creature attacks them, but is crushed by the lift as Beck escapes. They make it to the surface, which is calm and sunny. As they are met by a Coast Guard helicopter, the mutant surfaces nearby and tries to take Jones. He keeps it from escaping at the cost of his own life, and Beck throws a demolition charge into the creature's mouth, causing it to explode.
After they are dropped off on a Tri-Oceanic oil drilling platform, the two survivors are greeted by Martin. Martin tells them she believed they would make it, smiling insincerely and asking how Beck feels. Beck punches Martin in the face, knocking her out, and then answers her question by saying "Better. A lot better."

Tags: tragedy

Review:
Leviathan takes a long, immersive look at the machinations of corrupted power in the lives of the powerless, who desperately struggle to stay the course, hoping against hope to win a losing battle.A man and his family face off against a politically backed fat cat who wishes to buy the piece of land upon which stands their house, willing to destroy their family nest to raise a modern building in its stead.
I must say I was very excited to see this movie in the international film festival hosted here in Auckland.Set in corrupt small northern Russian town, that could very much be any other town, or even country, in the world, Leviafan explores the confrontation of a man against the mayor.
"Leviathan" is a David and Goliath story set in a desolate Russian fishing-town.We've seen it before- a man desperately tries to keep his property being taken away from rich greedy fat cats.But this is also a strong family drama, a tale of friendship, betrayal, corruption, hope, hopelessness...Impressive acting overall, the very slow paced narrative and almost no music besides two fitting Philip Glass pieces make this a movie to remember.
You cannot resist in taking sides when you see and understand the heroes battling with their demons and their enemies, that seem to be surrounding everything that makes their lives...Andrey Zvyagintsev after the wonders of drama, passion and mystic lyricism (Vozvrashchenie and Izgnanie) offers yet another one similar of his creations, adding though, a "spicy" allow me to say subject, a taboo, about corruption in modern day Russia and how all those things which are considered as high values to the Russian State and people, seem to be part in this injustice, destroying peoples' lives..
"All power comes from God. As long as it suits Him, fear not."After receiving an Oscar nomination for best foreign film, I finally decided to watch this 140 minute long movie.
I was hopeful I was finally going to see Russians not having to play villains, but to my surprise this film attacks its own society and the corruption behind its government and official church.
This film's story was inspired by the struggles of an American named Marvin Heemeyer, but Russian writer/director Andrey Zvyagintsev wanted to set the story in Russia.
With that, of course, comes Russian story-telling techniques – and an opportunity for non-Russians to learn more about how different life is in that country – and how similar people are the world over.The story centers around a man named Kolya (Alexei Serebriakov), who operates an automotive repair shop on his property right next to the Barents Sea. Kolya lives there with his second wife, Lilya (Elena Lyadova), and teenage boy, Roma (Sergey Pokhodaev), his son from his first marriage.
Then, just as Dmitri seems to be making some progress helping Koyla, an alliance between the mayor and the local Russian Orthodox priest, along with some significant changes in Koyla's personal life, put up more obstacles than he seems able to handle."Leviathan" is a well-made and interesting look inside modern Russia, but the style of filmmaking is an acquired taste.
The Priest: "All power comes from God. As long as it suits Him, fear not." The Mayor: "And so, it suits Him?"God may not be immediately apparent in the god-forsaken Russian coastal town of the rewarding film Leviathan, but the devil surely resides there.
Not only does the corrupt local mayor, Vadim (Roman Madyanov), seem destined to seize Kolya's property for a patronage resort, but Kolya" wife, Lilya (Elena Lyadova), is also carrying on with his close friend and attorney, Dimi (Vladimir Vdovichenkov), and no good to come of either ill-fortunes.
Leviathan, like the titular skeleton of a whale that serves as a figurative touchstone, is long, slow, and dark, confirming a stereotype of hardscrabble Russians trying to survive under the portraits of Putin and Gorbachov, the old and new struggling for the heart of the country.
The film shows not so many aspects of modern Russian life, but the same can be said that almost all the things that are shown in the Leviathan are taking place in contemporary Russia.
Look up Marvin Heemeyer, Grand Lake, Colorado, USA.It could happen anywhere, just change a few details of who/what/how/why.Some people with greater insight than me can explain the details of the symbolics used - as I know, a Leviathan challenge is one, that no human should attempt, it requires divine skills, hence the reference to Job.There are many subtle details in the images rolling over the screen - I wish I could understand Russian, so that nothing was lost in translation..
I really do not think it deserves so much.Story is timeless, it can happen in many countries all over the world and it will happen in the future as long as there is humanity.Scenery is magnificent, but that is not so difficult to achieve, all you need is a good camera and camera operator to shoot it all.Film portrays Russians well, that is exactly how they behave and live.
It's been a long time since I've watched a movie and have not been distracted by something that was wrong with it.I haven't seen a lot of Russian movies so I don't know if they're all that good or not.The sound design was so well done, and in combination with the cinematography- the way the camera moved, made you feel like you were being drawn into the room.
Many scenes in the film benefited from simple, subtle storytelling, instead of displaying all the gory details for the literal North American audience.If you haven't seen a really good movie in a long time, watch this one, Andy, watch this one..
The dramatic Russian film Leviathan is a multilayered film about far more than a family's fight for their home against a corrupt government.Andrey Zvyagintsev's saga as told through one man's struggle for his home against imminent demolition in Leviathan is a bold statement against Russian bureaucracy.A working class man named Kolya owns a beautiful home on the coast of the Barents Sea. He has plenty of "friends", most of whom position themselves close to Kolya for his skills as a mechanic.
It is once Dmitri arrives and lends aid to Kolya that life as Kolya knows it unravels around him.Leviathan is a brilliant and intriguingly grim narrative that touches upon religion, the Russian Orthodox Church, power, law, friendship, human nature, and trust.
As their characters' lives continue to spiral downward with further misfortune, the background and scenery grow increasingly decrepit to reflect the mood, a subtle nod to what the director is trying to achieve – and it all culminates with the ultimate destructive environment.In order to truly understand the magnitude of the film, one must first understand the real life political context from which it comes.
Leviathan is not a critical propaganda piece with the ultimate goal of being "Anti-Russian" and is in fact a morality tale of human nature set against a bleak landscape, but it is decidedly not positive of the national culture either.Most American film goers tend to stay away from foreign films and dislike reading subtitles.It really is a shame because for all their griping about the lack of creativity and originality in the films produced by Hollywood, they don't even realize that foreign cinema has what they seek.
Telling a story of people trapped by the corrupt state, it was quite sad to be honest, with an inclusion of colorful characters and far from the norm of film making.
Andrey Zvyagintsev's movie Leviathan (2014) is inspired by a true story that took place in the USA, the director however decided to shoot the movie in Russian in order to depict the conditions of Russians under a corrupt bureaucratic oligarchy.
A priest who looks like a character from Dostoyevski films advise Kolya to endure his trials and be patient like Job and submit his affairs to God. Kolya doesn't heed this advice and ends up being the bleached whale – Leviathan-that we see in the dried sea basins and the movie hence evokes both Hobbes Political tract and the old testament's Job.Parliamentary representative democracy failed.
While it moves about as slow as the leviathan at the heart of its title reference, Andrey Zvyagintsev's biblically inspired family drama is worth sticking it out for and while it doesn't have the same impact as his highly thought of 2003 film The Return, Leviathan is a unique and troublesome picture that offers a unique look at Russian life and politics.Loosely based around the Bible story of Job and his many trials, Leviathan is anything but an easy watch and in true Russian fashion, don't go into this experience expecting happy or colourful endings as the path to this tale is fraught with danger, lies and coldly played tactics.
Zvyagintsev is a master of mood and he embeds this stunningly well shot and hauntingly scored (Philip Glass provides the films sparsely used tunes) film with an ever ominous cloud of dread and while the film seems set on a certain direction within the first hour, things quickly turn in another way entirely when a fateful camping trip takes place between our films mains players.What takes place between our traveling business/family man Kolya or Nikolay, his oppressed wife Lilya, their lawyer and friend Dmitriy and corrupt local mayor Mer is much better discovered as one watches proceedings take place and there are frequent moments where you feel someone is one up on another only for the narrative to twist conventions and while it remains slightly frustrating that certain questions remain largely under lock and key come the final scenes, Leviathan's web covers a broad enough spectrum that has commentary on everything from the church system in Russia through to Vladimir Putin's ever present figure being both a literal and figurative presence over the country.Understandably recognised at film festivals the world over and awards ceremonies in equal measure (this really is the type of product Cannes and the Academy lap up) Leviathan doesn't break any new ground or truly justify its nearly snail paced plotting but despite there not being much to actually love about this picture, this is a bleak drama filled with deeply unnerving moments which will make it a film you're likely to ponder upon days after the final reels have played out.3 ½ washed up whale carcasses out of 5.
While watching "Leviathan", most viewers would like to know where is the Russian nation which was nicely depicted in previous films made by Zvyagintsev ?
Zvyagintsev's troubles do not seem to end here as his film has also been judged by some people in Russia as anti Russian.
Authors of this movie didn't realize that nobody needs something like this in Russia and in US it's just an exotic feature for few critics, so R.I.P. Leviathan, I am not going to watch you ever again..
"Leviathan" is that film.The Foreign Language Film Oscar nominee follows Kolya, played excellently by Aleksey Serebryakov, a man living in a small Russian town with his wife (Elena Lyadova) and son (Sergey Pokhodaev).
Leviathan (2014) - Andrey Zvyagintsev9-10/10 & added to my best of 2014 list, top 5 for the year + my masterpiece collection listthis film played at Cannes and for the fortunate people who saw it there, the buzz was amazing at the festival it did pickup "Best Screenplay" at Cannes, "Best Foreign Language Film" at the Golden Globes & will most likely win "Best Foreign Language Film" at the Oscars tomorrow nightThis is a very Russian story, from what I've witnessed & speaking with Russian friend Anastasia who saw it at Cannes but it's the kind of story the Russian government wouldn't like to be released cause it puts the corruption on display for the world to see.
This story focuses on a small sea side town in Russia where the mayor is taking over the property of a local who build the house himself 30 years ago it's a class war where if you are nobody of power, you get trampled, and in this case with a brutal conclusionwith stunning cinematography in this desolate environment, symbolizing the loss of hope in this small part of the world, whale carcasses beaches as apart of the landscape you get a taste of local life here, where they go shooting for a traffic officer's birthday, shooting pictures of ex Russian leaders, stating that Putin is still too new, needs to ripen before he can be added to the list there's interesting side stories of infidelity & by close a huge shift of trust within the community with a tragic eventall encompassed with a score of works by Phillip Glass, this is a tour e force of a film, showing how evil & unforgiving some people are, the human condition is on show in full force, with all it's contradictory intricacies one of the films of 2014 for sure, not many masterpieces released in 2014 but this film by Zvyagintsev, the rising voice in Russia proves there's a lot more top shelf quality to come!.
The French edition of the "Telerama" magazine decided, after watching the movie "Leviathan", to go to the city of Kirovsk in the Murmansk region, where the film was shot.They were pleasantly surprised."The city is not the impression of dying: apatite mined here, there is an old, but working ski station, built in Soviet times.
Leviathan is a retelling of the book of Job from the Bible, where a small and simple man is fiercely tested by his God. The story brings us to a small fishing village in Russia, where Kolya , a simple and hardworking man lives with his son Roma and his new wife Lilya.
He feels above the law, when he shows up completely drunk , accompanied by some bodyguards to personally threaten Kolya and his family.By the way, the main characters all seem to self-medicate heavily with bottle upon bottle of vodka , in order to escape the reality of what is happening to them.The movie is about the interpersonal relationships between the main characters , father and son, husband and wife, Kolya and Dima, ..
Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at Oscars this year, it's an intriguing look at Russia's own social issues but stories like this are usually a hit or miss with me & in this film's case, it's the latter.Set in a Russian coastal town, the story of Leviathan covers the events in the life of Kolya & his family as he fight against the town's corrupt mayor who has his eyes set on his property.
In order to prepare his case, Kolya enlists the help of his old friend who is now a successful lawyer in Moscow but his arrival ultimately brings even more problems for the family, leading to tragic consequences.Co-written & directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev, the film covers various themes like trust, betrayal, corruption, power etc and is nicely directed.
Yet the northern arctic coastline in which Leviathan is set is hauntingly beautiful, which only serves to make the human drama even more distressing.The characters and performances, not to mention the direction and cinematography, make for a film that flows magisterially from beginning to end.
However, like the image on the "Leviathan" poster, the Russia depicted in "Leviathan" has been rotted by corruption; only bones remain.The film is set in the isolated village of Teriberka, by the Barents Sea. It is a place of awesome natural beauty, but also abandoned houses, empty vodka bottles and uncomfortable silence.
That people needed something scary to get distracted from their own harsh realities, even if just for an hour or two, and maybe even get the feeling that their lives aren't that bad after all.Andrey Zvyagintsev reinvented the concept of horror movies.
Andrey Zviagintsev (director and screenwriter with Oleg Negin) takes us to a remote fishing village where its main characters Kolya (Aleksey Serebryakov), his teen-aged son, Roman (Sergey Podhodkaev), and new young wife, Lilya (Elena Lyadova), live in a modest home by the sea, in a setting both desolate and beautiful, with an unending supply of medicinal vodka.The town, like many, has a police force, a church, and a corrupt mayor, Vadim (Roman Madyanov).
With 'Leviathan', Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev has weaved a satirical tragedy on the themes of political and spiritual corruption; it's a story about corrupt people with absolute power and the ones who fight against it.
Opening the film with awe-inspiring shots of stately overwhelming topography of the rural region, Zvyagintsev has already perfected himself as a maestro of cinematic composition after all these years, and the story initially pans out like a heartening litigation between an upright family man Kolya (Serebryakov) vs.
So, we don't get a happy ending as we expected, instead, the film and its cogent script comb through the harsh situations with unyielding formality, Zvyagintsev carefully leaves all the centre drama off-camera, the affair, assault and suicide, are never directly witnessed by us, thus he sagely provides audience enough time to reflect on the happenings and maintain a close bond with the tale of woe, he knows how to tell a story in the cinematic language.
This film tells the story of a hot tempered man who challenges a corrupt mayor in a small town in Russia."Leviafan" is slow paced but very beautifully shot.
Set on Russia's remote but surprisingly beautiful Barents coast, Andrey Zvyagintsev's film 'Leviathan' tells a simple, harsh story of a man who stands to lose everything when he runs foul of the local mayor.
His way of life is threatened by corrupt mayor Vadim (Roman Madyanov), who has manipulated the forces of law to buy the land on which Kolya's house has been built, so that he can knock it down and build a church in its place.
There is very little comic relief in the film  only a single sequence involving target practice on pictures of past Russian officials, but the story and acting are so grounded that at times it feels much like a documentary.