Since Napoleon’s times everybody knows that try to understand Russian mysterious soul practically impossible. French froze near Moscow, Hitler took from his blitz – krig more than four years. Sum up. Russia is real marsh and better keep your nose clear out of there. But director David Kronenberg decides to forget about this experience. He invited brilliant editor and professional script writer and went in this greatest inferno. Irish, Jakudza, Cosa Nostra, international terrorism with Ben Laden – it is already was. And Kronenberg is discovering wild wild east – world of Russian organized criminality. Don’t get me wrong. The film are not bad. Vice versa – it is very good job. Foreign press gave highest estimation to movie. Russian audience was bought that filmmakers have laid off from Russian gangsters yshanki and valenki, took away balalaika and garmoshka and forever have separated with bears. Instead they have put on them stylish skin-jackets and Terminator’s sunglasses. And gave head role to King of Hondor Viggo Mortensen, who was painted from top to toe by prison’s tattoos Russian prison’s theme penetrate whole film. And it was head defect of film. Kronenberg have dived in that them too much and have forgotten that in Russia was change many things since 60-th, 70-th. Because of that, scene of crowning of Nikolai (not Romanov) was accompanied by laugh of Russian public in cinema theater. Yes hierarchy, yes tattoos, yes “… v zakone” but it was many many years ago and today in Russia this system is failed. And those lacks are provoking curl of the lips only. But important fact – action are happening in London. And who knows, may be in this ground of disgraced oligarchies and “vorov v zakone” all was kept. England is very conservative land. They have preserved monarchy. May be they have preserved Russian mafia too. Why not? But anyway, Eastern promises (on Russian translate “Vice on export”) a very good movie with professional direct and brilliant performances.
P.S. Bike “Ural” – worst bike in the world, believe me!)))
P.S. Bike “Ural” – worst bike in the world, believe me!)))