Read Positive User Reviews 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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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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10

because5Mar 1, 2015

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2 of 14 users found this helpful212

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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

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9

EpicLadySpongeMay 9, 2016

Wow, I have never expected a film like this to be so classy and movable. Leviathan is one of those perfect examples of such a thing and it joins with the other movies that has reached this score or higher..

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9

JLuis_001Sep 6, 2017

Leviathan is not really a 100% accessible film, but it is a film that offers a glimpse of Russian day-to-day people and how their nation maintains its social deal with them, a super hard dramatic satire that openly questions whether theirLeviathan is not really a 100% accessible film, but it is a film that offers a glimpse of Russian day-to-day people and how their nation maintains its social deal with them, a super hard dramatic satire that openly questions whether their nation really serves for the best interests of their citizens.… Expand

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10

wevertonaguiiarDec 9, 2019

Um ótimo drama familiar e também uma bela discussão sobre o papel do Estado. Engana-se quem pensa que "Leviatã" é um filme contra o Estado Russo, é na verdade, um filme contra o Estado em sua forma mais pura: o Estado de repressão; está é aUm ótimo drama familiar e também uma bela discussão sobre o papel do Estado. Engana-se quem pensa que "Leviatã" é um filme contra o Estado Russo, é na verdade, um filme contra o Estado em sua forma mais pura: o Estado de repressão; está é a função do Estado, e ele funciona assim em todos os lugares do mundo.… Expand

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8

lasttimeisawJun 25, 2015

Last year’s universally-acclaimed art house sensation from Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev, my second entry after his masterful debut THE RETURN (2003, 8/10) over a decade ago, it has been the hot-shot in the foreign language filmLast year’s universally-acclaimed art house sensation from Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev, my second entry after his masterful debut THE RETURN (2003, 8/10) over a decade ago, it has been the hot-shot in the foreign language film category of the past Oscar season since it was honoured with BEST SCREENPLAY in Cannes last year for Andrey and his co-writer Oleg Negin.

keep reading my review on my blog, please google: cinema omnivore, thanks.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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