TotalTelly.co.uk

Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV

Gorky Park [1983]


RRP: £12.99
Our Price: £3.32 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Martin Cruz Smith's bestselling mystery novel seemed ideal material for a movie version, but in Gorky Park director Michael Apted and the usually reliable writer Dennis Potter couldn't quite solve the problem of taking the story from page to screen. William Hurt plays Renko, a Cold War-era Moscow police detective who must cope with both crooks and Communist party protocol as he tries to solve a murder case in the middle of one of Moscow's public parks that leaves three faceless corpses. The strands of the mystery involve corruption, American money and the fur trade and, ultimately, take Renko to New York. But the tension is never all there, despite a deliciously menacing performance by Lee Marvin as the bad guy and Brian Dennehy as an American cop who becomes Renko's ally. --Marshall Fine


MASTER NOIR IN HEART OF MOSCOW
Review date: 2008-10-08 Rating: 10 out of 10

this is one of the best noirs to come out of the 80s ,it was adapted by micheal apted from martin cruz smith novel which is a study of the ordinary day to -day life in moscow as well as a terrific murder mystery .
this is muti-dimensional as it packs an intense drama with a love story as well as political corruption to give it a rich feel and despite all it's mutiple ambitions it suceeds in absorbing your attention at every level .
there are problems though ,helsinki is shown as moscow while the cast speak in a european rather then russian accents ,also the minute nuances from the book are lost but still it develops slowly but surely into an intelligent thriller which is rare.
the mainstay is william hurt, performing as the chief moscow detective who has given a well observed performance ,initially reserved and stoic as a cold slav who later sheds his mask to show a cynical yet emotional human being ,his romantic interest and one of the clues to the mystery is joanna pacula playing the desperate moscow girl yearning to escape to the west.
lee marvin is chilling as the manipulative american who is one of the best villains ever seen on screen and he is malicious but affective .
there is a malignant aura about this movie which transcends the script as it slowly evolves till you get into the mind of the characters and experience their emotions ,the cadaveric forensic studies help to build up the tension and terror with the detailed reconstruction of the skinned murder victims .
this is one of the best thrillers ever and it also suceeds in giving you a clear perspective of the russian opinion of the west in a focused and informative manner from the last years of the cold war .
the frozen park and the gloom of the icy river posing as the russian winter is harrowing against the doom of the cold war juxtaposed on the terror of the iron curtain ,yet it is surprising to see how similar essential life is in the heart of moscow as else where .
a very interesting and taut look at both criminals and financial international transactions in the conventional mode of a noir thriller which becomes an intelligent political thriller without looking pretentious or incredible ,in fact it is rather moving in a poetic manner with it's surprising twist in the finale.


Similar Products

Reviews


Fascinating, bittersweet, effective
Review date: 2008-03-15 Rating: 8 out of 10

It's winter and three corpses are found in Moscow's Gorky Park. They've had their faces and finger tips carved off. Arkady Renko, an honest, slightly obsessive Russian cop, is assigned to the case. He sets out to identify the bodies by reconstructing their faces, and as he gets closer he finds obstructions in his path. He finds a girl (Joanna Pacula) who was friends of the trio, a wealthy and ruthless American (Lee Marvin), an American cop (Brian Dennehy) out for blood, and more than he probably wants to know about sable coats and the animals they're made from. It becomes clear that corrupt higher-ups are involved in something with greater stakes than solving a triple murder. Hurt and Marvin do great jobs and are well matched.

This is a tight, very well constructed police procedural that is a little exotic, with the cops and functionaries being Russians. It's also a bit gloomy with a bittersweet ending, but it still works as a very watchable film. A lot of the outdoor shots were filmed in Helsinki, and the movie takes place in the winter. The atmosphere looks cold and oppressive. The contrast is striking with the scenes set in a pre-revolutionary bath and an expensive restaurant, both reserved for the use of privileged Soviet officials.

The book, by Martin Cruz Smith, is even better. Apted also directed Enigma, and I like both movies a lot.

Interesting story and a good cast
Review date: 2008-03-15 Rating: 8 out of 10

Watching this film is almost like watching a Russian version of Taggart. Gorky Park is essentially a thriller with a sizeable body count. Based in Moscow during the Cold War, the story is about the discovery of a few mutilated bodies and Arkady Renko's subsequent task of piecing together the grisly case. A subplot of corruption at the highest levels of the Soviet authorities is also a recurring theme.

There's an interesting cast here (including Lee Marvin and, believe it or not, Alexai Sale).

This was one of my favourite films from the 80's. It's a bit offbeat and I even learned what a sable was (to be honest I'd never heard of them).

P.S. Don't be fooled by the title - some of this movie was actually filmed in Glasgow!

Atmospheric
Review date: 2007-05-28 Rating: 10 out of 10

I loved this film. As previous reviews have said, it plods, but I feel it helps to create atmosphere. William Hurt is outstanding as Renko, a new type of hero, whose hands are tied by protocol and who is constantly at risk of stepping on the toes of the KGB. The film led me first to the audio book, which was excellent, and then to the novel itself. I have become a fan of Renko.
Reminding me of "The Odessa File", another favourite of mine, I have watched this film many times and am neither bored or disappointed.
Worthy of two hours duration, one and half would be too rushed.
Highly recommended.

Great movie
Review date: 2006-07-07 Rating: 10 out of 10

For anyone who has read the book, you HAVE to see the movie (and ofcorse vice versa with the book).

An interesting story (if just a little bit complex and hard to understand at times), but with the perfect cast (a who's who of 1980's UK film and tv, along with William Hurt playing the role that was made for him) it all builts up to one of the best hidden gems to come out of the 1980's... better than the Bond movies from the same period!!!

For anyone who has read the book, don't worry, as it is not page for page the same (a few things have been taken out, but it is EVERYTHING you pictured it to be while you were reading it)

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Lee Marvin
William Hurt
Joanna Pacula
Ian Bannen
Brian Dennehy

Creators:
William Hurt (Primary Contributor)
Lee Marvin (Primary Contributor)
Efrem Harkham (Producer)
Gene Kirkwood (Producer)
Hawk Koch (Producer)
Robert E. Larson (Producer)
Uri Harkham (Producer)
Dennis Potter (Writer)
Martin Cruz Smith (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: MGM Entertainment
Manufacturer: MGM Entertainment
EAN: 5050070009705
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2003-05-19
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 124 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1984-04-06
Language: English (Original Language)

Add to Cart

© 2006 Darren Hester, DesignsByDarren.com, Some Rights Reserved.
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional