Read User Reviews and Submit your own for Leviathan (2014)

8

jeremypMar 1, 2015

A serious, serious movie. Dostoevsky would have approved. While the metaphors and symbolism are never subtle, their subject has never been either. Vodka, corruption, depression, all the things Russia is most infamous for.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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9

NathonasJan 12, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is the most authentically Russian film I've ever seen. I've lived in North America for 15 years and I felt like I was back in Russia when watching it. Many of the characters reminded me of my relatives or people I knew, the crumbling Soviet architecture, the dark pessimism, the corruption, and just the simple mannerisms are all distinctly Russian.

The plot is a bit exaggerated, though. Yes, Russia is corrupt, but I doubt things would realistically ever go so far as having Kolya wrongly imprisoned. Also, the film is set in a very remote part of Russia, so it's a lot more bleak than if it was set in a major city like Moscow. Outside of that though, the film is an absolute must see if you want to get a glimpse of Russian life, and try to understand why people drink so much.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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7

litpickDec 27, 2015

This movie is a bit overrated. It starts out very good. It is intriguing and then it just becomes like a love triangle that ends up in an extremely melodramatic fashion.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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9

netflicJan 12, 2015

It is a serious philosophical drama that takes place in a North-Western part of Russia known as Kola peninsula.
Dynamics between a family, a local authority, and Russian Orthodox church are the focus of the film. Lack of justice, corruption,It is a serious philosophical drama that takes place in a North-Western part of Russia known as Kola peninsula.
Dynamics between a family, a local authority, and Russian Orthodox church are the focus of the film. Lack of justice, corruption, moral and physical decline in the post Soviet Russia - that's what the movie is about.
Everything looks and feels authentic: real people, real drama, real vodka (plenty of it, plenty of black humor too).
It is clear that Kolya's story (Kolya is a protagonist) is a typical one. Life is bleak and difficult, and the future seems even darker.
It is a powerful movie that touches the soul and disturbs the mind.… Expand

6 of 7 users found this helpful61

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10

LoluslolusJan 17, 2015

Oh my gosh, is anybody here knows that story about Marvin Heemeyer, not Russian! And Andrey wanted make film in USA, what are you talking, about, people? It's not about Russia, it's about people without nation. Love, peace, killdozer.

9 of 15 users found this helpful96

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6

nicholasbertSep 12, 2015

A nicely presented portrait of the helplessness of the common man put to terms with widespread corruption. I'm not familiar with the main metaphor here (the one about Job), but I can say it's hardly a new concept - the good thing is they'veA nicely presented portrait of the helplessness of the common man put to terms with widespread corruption. I'm not familiar with the main metaphor here (the one about Job), but I can say it's hardly a new concept - the good thing is they've made a sort of realistic thing out of it, without some cheesy happy ending that could easily have killed the entire vibe of the film.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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8

Brent_MarchantJan 24, 2015

Despite its occasional snail-like pacing and a bloated script in need of some judicious editing, this is one of the more intriguing and unusual cinematic releases to come along in quite some time. Its dark, sometimes-satirical commentary onDespite its occasional snail-like pacing and a bloated script in need of some judicious editing, this is one of the more intriguing and unusual cinematic releases to come along in quite some time. Its dark, sometimes-satirical commentary on the state of contemporary Russian politics and religion is punctuated by ample Biblical allusions, making for thought-provoking viewing on many levels. While the film is definitely not everyone's cup of tea, it is an engaging offering for those looking for substantive cinematic fare.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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8

jakubukajJan 19, 2015

Excellent dialogue, fantastic pace and thrilling performances, particularly from Serebryakov and Madyanov. The sense of foreboding and darkness in this loose adapation of the Book of Job swells in the bleakness of the Barents Sea; aExcellent dialogue, fantastic pace and thrilling performances, particularly from Serebryakov and Madyanov. The sense of foreboding and darkness in this loose adapation of the Book of Job swells in the bleakness of the Barents Sea; a meditation on the value of human life and abuses of power.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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10

royphishoohMar 20, 2015

Magnificent film shows everything that is wrong with Russia (and most of Eastern Europe). There hasn't been an American film in the last five years that is half as good as this.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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0

romanvartanovFeb 7, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The film is a weak attempt to picture Russia as hell on earth. The director Zvyagintsev simply used ther anti-Russian moods spread by western media in order to gain popularity in the west.

The charachters act unnaturally and do things which people just don't. People do not act like this. They might be bad and corrupt but they if they want to evict you the would never come to your house and call you an insect - what for? The mayer would never obey a priest. The influence of church is so much exaggerated in the movie...

The man just had a bad cheating wife. His friend lawyer and the mayor just act inadequately.

By the way, it is plagirised from Dogville.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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5

LamontRaymondJan 6, 2015

I agree with LowbrowCinema for the most part. The movie has its merits, but it's just too darned bloated. The insights you gain from the film are not worth sitting through the slog. There have been FAR better movies based on the situationI agree with LowbrowCinema for the most part. The movie has its merits, but it's just too darned bloated. The insights you gain from the film are not worth sitting through the slog. There have been FAR better movies based on the situation in Russia that have been released in recent years. I'm a little stunned that this is the 2nd best limited release movie of 2014. Ida, Whiplash, and Force Majeure are FAR more entertaining - and isn't that the point?… Expand

2 of 7 users found this helpful25

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2

hotfromcauldronJan 11, 2015

This vodka doused Russian import's three acts can only be described as neat, on the rocks and muddled in a town filled with bad hangovers and future AA members. A cold war breaks out when a way too fair minded car mechanic's land isThis vodka doused Russian import's three acts can only be described as neat, on the rocks and muddled in a town filled with bad hangovers and future AA members. A cold war breaks out when a way too fair minded car mechanic's land is threatened by a corrupt mayor under the policy of eminent domain- the power for the state to seize property for public use- quite common in the USA. I'll drink to that. But Leviathan drowns in contrived plot twists, cloudy judgement and drunken banter. Far from 2014's best more a public service message for MADD.… Expand

5 of 19 users found this helpful514

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0

NorthPoleFeb 28, 2015

What a dreadful movie. This movie should never have been nominated for an Oscar. It is just one Russian stereotypical problem after another. It has the feel of a propaganda film. Yea, all Russian police, court, government officials areWhat a dreadful movie. This movie should never have been nominated for an Oscar. It is just one Russian stereotypical problem after another. It has the feel of a propaganda film. Yea, all Russian police, court, government officials are corrupt while common people sit around drinking vodka and cheat on their spouses. At the end of the film, a priest gives a sermon about seeing the truth and getting rid of lies. HA, maybe the director of this film should take some of this priest's advice because the whole film does not accurately portray Russians. This film is a real Khaltura (hack job). Avoid it if you can!!!… Expand

2 of 8 users found this helpful26

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10

because5Mar 1, 2015

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Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing, Amazing.… Expand

2 of 14 users found this helpful212

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5

LowbrowCinemaJan 2, 2015

There's no doubt that LEVIATHAN is a well-crafted and intelligently acted meditation on the inequality of man and the horrible deeds dropped onto a good innocent man, but we've seen it all before. This modern re-telling of Job is far toThere's no doubt that LEVIATHAN is a well-crafted and intelligently acted meditation on the inequality of man and the horrible deeds dropped onto a good innocent man, but we've seen it all before. This modern re-telling of Job is far to direct to make much impact. An orthodox priest actually appears at one point and details the book of Job to the main character. A little subtlety would have been nice. The film, for all its merits, hits you like an obvious and overt sledge hammer. Yes, man sucks. Yes, the system will side with the wealthy and powerful. What else is new? Is this news to anyone? If so, this film is for you! If however, you have ever read Hobbes' Leviathan, or you simply live in the real world, you'll know better and wonder why the fuss.… Expand

1 of 7 users found this helpful16

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0

Jack_MorganJan 29, 2015

Well, one thing is for sure, there has never been a movie made that shows a corrupt rabbi. Always the attack on anything, no matter how remote, associated with Jesus, Iesus, Christianity, etc.

And in this movie, viewed at no cost to me,Well, one thing is for sure, there has never been a movie made that shows a corrupt rabbi. Always the attack on anything, no matter how remote, associated with Jesus, Iesus, Christianity, etc.

And in this movie, viewed at no cost to me, and I truly hope it loses money for the producer, portrays a Christian leader of the church giving advice that is patently, totally, utterly wrong.

In other words, the director dresses up a devil worshiper in an Orthodox priest frock and gives him a few lines that are not at all consistent with the character portrayed.

Given the exact same set of circumstances, I am confident you could not find a single Christian priest (or whatever they call them) over there that would have given the same advice, which in this case was to overrule the corrupt mayor's rare prick of conscience, to tell him to take matters into his own hands, and to forcefully do whatever was necessary to rid himself of his antagonist, instead of what a real Christian would do, and that is to advise the mayor to pursue the truth and justice, the cornerstones of what Jesus stood for.

And let's not also forget that Jesus got in the face of the "synagogue of Satan", run by the Pharisee mafia of Jesus' day. Those were the people who forced the hand of Pilot. They were the ones chanting "Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him!"

The sting of his resurrection, and his ubiquitous presence in the world is obviously a real burn for the synagogue of Satan, because, as we see, Hollywood, and now even Russian movie makers, will never pass up the chance to demonize Iesus (using the older spelling) and his followers, when they are the demons themselves.

While it is true corruption finds its way into the heart of every man, woman and child at one point or the other, yes, even a Christian leader, but it would also be a Jewish leader as well. Yet, in this movie, once again, we see a conspicuously over the top misrepresentation of a follower of Iesus, which leads the intelligent viewer, who isn't an empty brain waiting to be washed, to suspect all the other things the director is attempting to represent are also exaggerated.

Lastly, the timing is conspicuous, as the notoriously anti-Christian Beast of the west is attacking the Russian people's economy because they don't like Putin, a man who has the audacity to show up in church on Easter Sunday to pay tribute to the risen Lord.

Hmmph ... a bunch of little babies with too much (counterfeit) money and time on their hands.

Thumbs down to Leviathan. It is nothing more than a distorted propaganda hit piece against Putin, Russia, and Christianity in Russia.… Expand

1 of 10 users found this helpful19

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0

mrmihailavdeevJan 28, 2015

Don't know why this piece of **** get's so much positive reviews and international rewards. It's stupid, boring and have nothing common with actual Russia and it's people.

1 of 18 users found this helpful117

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8

StaticSpineFeb 15, 2015

A pretty harsh and depressing story about one small man against public authority. Some facts may be exaggerated, but the core problem seems legit. After watching the movie I had the same feeling as after finishing reading 1984.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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9

yezoApr 6, 2015

It is a good movie to showcase the problem in Russia, from family, teenager, social, politic, police, religious, law and justice system.
The movie is well executed.
I think the movie is worth watching. I am quite surprised that the RussiaIt is a good movie to showcase the problem in Russia, from family, teenager, social, politic, police, religious, law and justice system.
The movie is well executed.
I think the movie is worth watching.
I am quite surprised that the Russia government allows this movie to be released.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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7

DevilmathSep 27, 2015

After winning the Best Screenplay award at the Cannes Film Festival, and being chosen as Russia's official submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Leviathan added yet another trophy to its showcase a few days ago. AsAfter winning the Best Screenplay award at the Cannes Film Festival, and being chosen as Russia's official submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Leviathan added yet another trophy to its showcase a few days ago. As BFI Fellow and President of the Official Competition Jeremy Thomas announced, the London Film Festival’s jury chose this Russian drama as winner of this year’s competition, commending its “grandeur and themes [which] moved all of us in the same way”. Another successful feature for Andrey Zvyaginstev, whose Elena already won the Special Jury Prize at Cannes in 2011. After premiering at many other important festivals (Telluride, Toronto, Vancouver), Leviathan is released in the UK by Curzon Cinemas without much clamour or hype. The cinematic season reaches its peak at this time of the year; as Christmas blockbusters and Oscar-hunting auteurs begin to seize screening rooms and star on every bus side and billboard, this ambitious but overlooked film will have a hard time getting the attention it deserves. And yet, despite not striking immediately as a crowd pleaser, this is more than just a film for sophisticated critics: it’s a deep and tragic reflection on human nature that everyone should consider watching.

Set in a Russian coastal town, Leviathan kicks off as a tense and dark political thriller. Nikolay (Aleksey Serebryakov) and his girlfriend Lilya (Elena Lyadova) live with Nikolay’s teenage son Roma; their stability is threatened by the greediness of corrupt mayor Vadim (Roman Madianov), who wants to build a conference centre on Nikolay’s land. The clash between the two ends up in court, where judges inevitably defend the vested interests of the powers that be. But Nikolay’s lawyer, handsome Muscovite Dmitri (Vladimir Vdovichenkov), has an ace up his sleeve: a secret dossier on Vadim. Will that be enough to make the shady politician desist? The preparation of the blackmail is one of the most unusual and satirically nipping sequences, not only in this film, but in the history of movie blackmails. Before finally taking the compromising documents to Vadim’s personal office, Dmitri goes all around town to try and press charges against the politician; the series of dismissive rejections or excuses he hears from various functionaries is a remorseless blow to Russia’s apparatus and enduring submission to power.

When Leviathan hits its peak of tension, the thriller progressively fades out to let the human drama grow. This destabilising trick might put off those who expect a climactic series of plot twists, but it’s necessary to accurately portray the unfolding of events and their impact on everyone involved. The relationship between Nikolay and Lilya, their friends, and Dmitri is very soon put to the test by the real-life repercussions of Nikolay and Dmitri’s insubordination. Their favourite pasttime, drinking, suddenly turns from comical to woeful; their camaraderie shatters, not only by Vadim’s hand, but also because of their human inadequacies. Although you’ll be hard-pressed to find a bleaker film this year, Leviathan’s social and human critique can’t be mistaken for simple nihilism. In one of its most vivid and symbolic scenes, Nikolay’s son Roma sits by the coast, worn out by his family’s unsurmountable decline; next to him lies the huge skeleton of a sea creature, a reference to the biblical and mythological leviathan that God shows to Job to prove the inscrutability of the divine plan. In Roma’s case, the higher power is much more earthly and unforgiving.… Expand