The Duelist (2016)

The Age of Commercialism

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

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

This was one of the best period movies I have seen in quite a long time, if you are interested in Russian Culture or have been to St. Petersburg, speak Russian and German you may even like it more. I thought the movie was riveting, suspenseful, and engrossing. I found it hard to take my eyes off the screen, and will watch it again with my wife. The sets, costumes, locations, were as good as it gets. A must see for a foreign film.

I really don't get why this movie is getting dissed and why it bombed so badly. I'm guessing people have an attitude because it's a Russian production (and subtitled). A long time ago that doomed the excellent period piece 'Waterloo'. The director, Aleksey Mizgirev, watched 'The Duelists' by Ridley Scott for preparation, another movie that is very underrated.I found this movie to be really engaging. The story never drags. It's beautifully shot with great production design and cinematography. It's an intriguing look at honor and nobility as interpreted by the Russian culture. The story is a bit reminiscent of Dostoevsky. There's a bad Count who had banished the duelist and as irony would have it, years later he employs the same man to fight duels to rid himself of enemies.The film is well acted. Pyotr Fyodorov is stoic and sort of badass as the title character. He really fills the role very well. Vladimir Mashkov is a commanding presence as the evil count. Yuliya Khlynina plays the easy to look at, in slightly over her head, Princess, who becomes the love interest of both the duelist and the evil count.I definitely recommend this movie for fans of period pieces.

it reminds the atmosphere of Imperial Russia. it gives a dark story, fascinating for the game of levels, using good cinematography, remembering Count of Monte Cristo and using a small love story as spice.the result - a beautiful show, not only as aesthetic product but for a story who, out its bloody dimension, remains seductive for the wise manner to mix the Hollywood standards with the Russian tradition. Pyotr Fyodorov did an admirable job and each new meet with Vladimir Mashkov, especially in a role who reminds Vicomte de Valmont from Dangerous liaisons , is a good thing. so, a beautiful film. maybe not at the high expectations of a part of public but decent and seductive.

Set in 19th century Imperial Russia, this quite violent Russian film stars Pyotr Fyodorov, who gives a powerful performance as the mysterious Yakovlev. He's only been in the city of St. Petersburg for several months but has already killed 5 men as a duelist (comparable in a way to a Wild West gunslinger). Only slowly do we learn of his motivations, and it's only towards the very end of the movie that all is revealed.To note, I thought some of the plot elements could be rather obtuse and difficult to follow at times. The settings and cinematography are exquisite and I really got the sense that I was right there in 19th century Russia.All in all, if you don't mind the violence or some of the cloudy plot elements, this movie can be a reasonably decent watch, especially if you like dark and intense foreign dramas.