Admiral (2008)

Purely Joyful Movie!

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Blistering performances.

Let me preface this by disclosing that I am not from Russia. Perhaps the movie becomes more compelling if you are raised in the Russian society and culture, but I wasn't.Here is the review of the movie in a nutshell: There was potential for greatness, but it was wasted on a mechanical love triangle and historical superficiality. Shame.For example, the lovers never get intimate. It is as if they are constantly waiting for the camera crew to leave. There is no passion between them. This made various key plot elements hard to buy.Also, we never get a good sense of why the Admiral is fighting for the dying regime. From what I have read on the net, he was a passionate anti-Bolshevik but we don't get that sense in the movie. Why does he put everything on the line after the monarchy falls? Why doesn't he just leave? Why do the soldiers loyal to him keep fighting? What does he want to do with Russia if he can beat the Reds? We get no clue, no explanation, no plan, no rationale, not even a trace of human emotion grounding the resistance. What we see is someone in a uniform going through the motions. He appears to be a good actor too, so if I had to point my finger on someone, I would blame the failure on the screenwriter and the director.But perhaps that's actually how the war happened, which could explain why he lost against the Reds.In the end, the movie fails on both counts: It is not a believable love- triangle drama and it is not a compelling history movie. Unless you already care deeply about the historical figures in the movie, you wont find yourself moved.I don't recommend it to any audience.

A sweeping historical epic and moving love story reminiscent of David Lean's epic Dr Zhivago, Admiral is a big budget film set against the turbulent history of Russia between 1914 and 1920. The central character is Admiral Aleksandr Vasilevich Kolchak (Konstantin Khabenskiy), a genuine Russian hero – Arctic explorer, hero of the Baltic campaign in World War I – who became leader of White Russia after the revolution and was executed as a traitor by the Bolsheviks in 1920. Kolchak also embarks on an affair with Anna Timireva (Elizaveta Boyarskaya), the wife of his best friend and fellow officer. This marvellous film from director Andrei Kravchuk (The Italian, etc) explores the destruction of the opulent way of life of Imperial Russia as well as the brutal horrors of war. A stirring story of love, honour, patriotism and heroism, Admiral has been beautifully shot in widescreen and its visuals are often breath taking.

When I was about to watch this film I did not bother to read the critical articles in the papers or in the Internet. Initially I looked upon the film as just an entertainment, but the impression turned to be much deeper. What puzzles me is the reaction towards the film in the Russian media. After I left the cinema I was most convinced that "Admiral" is worth almost unanimous public acclaim for this film is an attempt to investigate probably the most complicated and still painful period in the history of Russia. And show this period through the destiny of Admiral Kolchak. According to the Khabensky’s words he was to show not a dictator, but a man in love who has also duties before his country but cannot deny his feelings. That is why "Admiral" though being a historic movie is actually neither about war, nor politics. It is a great and beautiful love story. After "Admiral" I was curious to learn more about the Civil War and the figure of Kolchak. Of course it is studied at school, but in fact what is written in the school textbooks is a total mess of facts and dates. But now the reading is more interesting as I can imagine this distant historic statesmen and thus I get a clearer picture of the Civil War in Siberia. Admiral Kolchak’s life was full of everything one can wish to himself: he discovered new lands in the Arctic Ocean and named them, he knew what it is like to win great battles, he was loved by faithful and brave women, he led enormous armies and gave aspiration to so many people. He was the symbol of honorable struggle. I would say that even dry historic books about Kolchak are as exciting as novels. So his screened biography is also breathtaking. "Admiral" is probably the best modern Russian film.

Just a small correction, the filming of 'Admiral' took place before 'Irony of Fate 2'. So, Khabensky and Boyarskaya duet originally was born during production of 'Admiral'.Liza is a young actress, but she increases her actor's skills and abilities from film to film. 'Irony...' required another significance of role. And I think, the aim was attained - new heroine became modern, interesting and attractive for up-to-date public.A lot of excellent actors got only few seconds role in 'Admiral', but they used this time terrifically !And for summing up, 'Admiral' is a great movie which should be felt deeply and only after that - scrutinized.