Gorky Park

Starring:William Hurt, Lee Marvin, Brian Dennehy, Ian Bannen, Joanna Pacula, Michael Elphick, Richard Griffiths, Rikki Fulton, Alexander Knox, Alexei Sayle, Ian McDiarmid, Niall O'Brien, Henry Woolf, Tusse Silberg, Patrick Field, Jukka Hirvikangas, Marjatta Nissinen, Heikki LeppÃ¤nen, Lauri TÃ¶rhÃ¶nen, Elsa Salamas
Director: Michael Apted
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Martin Cruz Smith's bestselling mystery novel seemed ideally cast for this movie version, but director Michael Apted and the usually reliable writer Dennis Potter couldn't solve the problem of taking the story from the page to the 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

Description

Murder, seduction and intrigue in the Kremlin! Written by Dennis Potter (Brimstone and Treacle), from a Martin Cruz Smith novel, Gorky Park is a gripping and brilliant classic! StarringWilliam Hurt, Lee Marvin, Brian Dennehy, and Joanna Pacula, this "crisp intricate thriller" (TheNew York Times) takes you behind the iron curtain! When three murder victims are discovered in Moscow's Gorky Parktheir faces and fingertips removeddetective Arkady Renko (Hurt) isdetermined to identify the bodies and find the killer. But as a picture of the victims takes shape,the clues point toward involvement not only of the KGB but also of the woman he loves, Irina (Pacula). Now, hunted by the secret police and confronted by an intricate web of deception and treachery reaching to the highest political levels, Renko will stop at nothing to uncover the truth and bring the killer to justiceeven if it means guaranteeing his own destruction and losing Irina forever.

Customer Reviews:

Glasnost and Gorky Park.......2007-02-06

The movie "Gorky Park," released in 1983, was based on Martin Cruz Smith's phenomenally successful novel of the same name. It was made well before "glasnost," the Russian willingness to open up; therefore, although set in Russia, it was actually filmed in Finland. Never mind: Finland looks every bit as cold and snowy to most of us. "Gorky Park" was written by the highly-acclaimed British screenwriter Dennis Potter("Singing Detective," "Pennies from Heaven"), and its director, well-thought-of Briton Michael Apted (the "Seven-Up" series). The film stars the Americans William Hurt, Brian Dennehy, and Lee Marvin; the usual suspects among able British supporting players (including Richard Griffiths, who just recently, suddenly, achieved stardom in late middle age with "The History Boys," play and movie). It introduces the former model Joanne Pacula.

Cruz Smith's novel, a police procedural, was quite an achievement: in those days before glasnost, and before the Internet, he had to research it in various hard-copy libraries without ever going to the U.S.S.R.; yet it read as if he knew the country, its police procedures, and its internal politics well. (Nor has he ever written anything else, before or since, that sold as strongly.)

The plot concerns three bodies found in the snow, in central Moscow's Gorky Park, near the skating rink. The faces and fingertips of the bodies have been skinned, making them difficult to identify. The case falls to Moscow police detective Arkady Renko, who'd rather not have it: its got fingerprints of the KGB, reputedly brutal Russian secret service, all over it. And though he is lauded as the most successful of Moscow detectives, his independent ways, particularly in regard to the skirt-the-law murderous KGB, have gotten him into trouble before. It's likely that, if he weren't the son of a celebrated general, his troubles might have been deeper: they might yet, still, be.

Hurt plays Renko with a noticeable degree of formality; he's not the all-American boy next door here. The case brings him into contact with the lucrative trade in sable furs, a profitable Russian monopoly. He also meets Brian Dennehy, playing an American policeman with a much harder edge than we're accustomed to seeing on him. And Lee Marvin, handsomely tanned and grey-haired, looking every inch the successful American businessman, giving one of his typical highly-mannered performances; that actor never walked when he could strut. Hurt/Renko also finds Pacula, playing a beautiful young script girl willing to die to get out of Russia. She looks Slavic. Also sexier, all bundled up for the cold, than she has any right to, and is adequate to the demands of her part. (Still, her acting career never went much further.) The Brits, Griffiths, Ian Bannen, Rikki Fulton, Alexander Knox, Michael Elphick, play all the Russian parts without a hint of a Russian accent. Go figure.

The movie is strong on the ambiance of life in a cold climate. Also life as it had to be lived for the masses in Russia then, and perhaps now. Plenty of vodka. A scene of an open-air do-it-yourself used auto mart. Scenes of people standing on long lines for whatever meat or fresh produce was available, then sitting down to eat, inside a restaurant, in hat and coat. "Gorky Park" also gives us a look at the life of the privileged, then and now. The greatly desired dachas, weekend country houses. An elegant imperial era mens' bathhouse. A grand hotel. It moves fast, and maintains suspense to the end. Its underlying theme, the desire for freedom inborn in every living creature, has emotional resonance. In these post glasnost days, anyone who can raise the fare is welcome to Russia, but a lot of Russia is still to be found in this picture, no matter where it was filmed.

An International Thriller Without Comparison.......2007-01-20

I've seen movies that treat the Russians as the villains and the Americans as the heroes. I've seen movies that treat Russians as the heroes, and those that treat us as the bad guy. This one is all of the above. Actually, the problem is not the governments in this movie. An American, played by Lee Marvin, is the main villain, and a Russian, played by William Hurt, is the main hero. However, there are Russians conspiring with Marvin, and an American is an ally to Hurt.

I compare this movie to "Blade Runner", though the other is a futuristic sci-fi movie, in that both are violent R-rated movies with minimal nudity, but both have endings that are excellent and thought provoking.

One warning for fellow Christians reading the review: There is a negative stereo-type of a born-again Christian in this movie. This is a minor part of the story, and I would not consider it the worst part of the movie. The sex and violence can be more of a problem for some. But I still enjoyed this movie, and would recommend it to those who can handle that sex and violence.

And by all means, watch the credits. That is the best footage of the movie. I won't say anything more to keep from revealing any surprises, but it is both fun and gives a message.

A classic -- get it.......2007-01-11

Great movie, great actors, what more can be said? It's a classic movie you'll watch more than once!

Terrific movie. A classic........2006-02-17

This is a really terrific movie. Suspense, plot, action; all there, all well done. There are a couple of other things that make this movie stand out. First, the acting. I think this has got to be one of Lee Marvin's best performances. He absolutley commands the screen. William Hurt plays the part of a Soviet cop. When in scenes with Marvin, Hurt's character is shown to be provincial and unsophisticated. Part of the way this is shown is in Hurt's display of envy at Marvin's character's ability to say the right thing, dress the right way, and so on. Hurt is playing a part (and doing it very well), but I wonder if there wasn't some back handed paying of tribute to Marvin.

The second thing that sets this movie apart is the fact that Dennis Potter has the writing credit. I've only seen a couple of his plays but I really liked his stuff and his writing really adds to the movie.

This is a movie worth seeing every couple of years, or so.

Not your typical walk in the park.......2006-01-26

I remember how this movie got very mixed reviews when it came out. I was always curious about it, but it took me 20+ years to get around to seeing it. When I finally did, I felt that I may as well have waited another 20 years.

Without a doubt, this has to be one of the most boring movies I've ever seen. It seems like every minor point in the plot is dragged out more & more. The plot is very convoluted (to say the least!) and by the end of the film I really didn't care anymore who did what (or why). In short, this was a DVD where I looked FORWARD to the final credits.

The movie basically has 2 "selling points." The first is the shock-value of 3 people not only being murdered but having their faces sliced off. And yes, for those interested, the film-makers milk this grotesque feature of the plot for all it's worth.

The second selling point is Joanna Pacula. She is beautiful and perfect as the Russian girl Irina. I don't know if she has any Russian blood in here, but she's VERY believable portraying a woman in the former Soviet Union. She even sounds Russian. She also looks terrific without her shirt on, but the viewer has to sit thru 2+ hours to get to that part, and it's a very quick scene. (((((((sigh)))))

If you're a die-hard murder mystery fan, this movie might be for you. If you go bonkers over all movies that detail the former Soviet Union, this movie might be worth a look. Otherwise, I'm inclined to think you'll find it to be as big a yawner as I did.

Average customer rating:

Glasnost and Gorky Park
An International Thriller Without Comparison
A classic -- get it
Terrific movie. A classic.
Not your typical walk in the park

Gorky Park [Region 2]
Starring: William Hurt , Lee Marvin , Brian Dennehy , Ian Bannen , and Joanna Pacula
Director: Michael Apted
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Russia House
The Day of the Jackal
Three Days of the Condor
The Odessa File
Eye of the Needle

ASIN: B00008YNGP

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Glasnost and Gorky Park.......2007-02-06

An International Thriller Without Comparison.......2007-01-20

A classic -- get it.......2007-01-11

Great movie, great actors, what more can be said? It's a classic movie you'll watch more than once!

Terrific movie. A classic........2006-02-17

Not your typical walk in the park.......2006-01-26

Average customer rating:

Glasnost and Gorky Park
An International Thriller Without Comparison
A classic -- get it
Terrific movie. A classic.
Not your typical walk in the park

Gorky Park [Region 2]
Starring: William Hurt , Lee Marvin , Brian Dennehy , Ian Bannen , and Joanna Pacula
Director: Michael Apted
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Russia House
The Day of the Jackal
Three Days of the Condor
The Odessa File
Eye of the Needle

ASIN: B000059Z3E

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Glasnost and Gorky Park.......2007-02-06

An International Thriller Without Comparison.......2007-01-20

A classic -- get it.......2007-01-11

Great movie, great actors, what more can be said? It's a classic movie you'll watch more than once!

Terrific movie. A classic........2006-02-17

Not your typical walk in the park.......2006-01-26

Average customer rating:

Gorky Park

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Music Videos
Concert

ASIN: B000M71H76

Product Description

MUSIC VIDEOS: 1. TELL ME WHY? 2. LET`S GO 3. STARE 4. OCEAN 5. STOP THE WORLD 6. I`M SCARED 7. LIAR 8. MOSCOW CALLING 9. BANG 10.JENNY CONCERT: 1. LIAR 2. MY GENERATION 3. TOMORROW 4. STRANGER 5. HIT ME WITH THE NEWS 6. EGO 7. TRY TO FIND ME 8. FIVE WHEEL DRIVE 9. OCEAN 10. NALET 11. TWO CANDELS 12. BEDA 13. MOSCOW CALLING 14. TELL ME WHY? 15. BANG 16. STARE

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