The State Counsellor (2005)

Just what I expected

There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.

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

The acting in this movie is really good.

Around the time that I watched Filipp Yankovsky's "Statskiy sovetnik" ("The State Counsellor" in English), I read Boris Akunin's "Altyn Tolobas", depicting Erast Fandorin's grandson. It's worth comparing and contrasting the stories, but the eras in which they take place. The stories featuring Erast Fandorin take place in czarist Russia, while the ones featuring Nicholas Fandorin (raised in England due to his mother having fled the 1917 revolution) take place after the Soviet Union broke up.Anyway, in this movie we see Erast Fandorin trying to stop a revolutionary group from overthrowing the czar, but his dealings with Prince Pozharsky complicate things. Practically every character in the movie has something to hide. I wouldn't call it a masterpiece, but I like how they laid out the plot, and the casting was just right. Worth seeing.

The plot of this film is the murder of the adjutant General Khrapov. Someone posing as a state Councilor Fandorin is in the sleeping carriages on the train and commits murder, then begins a long but very exciting story. It is worth noting that this film is a screen adaptation of the novel by Boris Akunin, and this is from the movie some points have been removed, although very few of them.What is so special about this film?History. Here believe it or not, but having started to watch this movie, you will spend the next 2 hours completely forgetting about her case. Not for nothing is the filmmakers chose the slogan: "The games are over. Now the real Fandorin in the present case"The action takes place in the late 19th century, even on this young audience more clear. The "simple and clear" language of the narrative. Acting. The cast of this film can be called a bouquet, if you want cream of the time. Brilliant Menshikov fully felt in the role of Fandorin. Nikita Mikhalkov, who agreed to say "meow" in the movie and put a tear in a brilliant climax. Mashkov absolutely confidently played the role of Kozyr'. Of course, Khabenskiy, not afraid to take the hardest of the image of the Green and pass it at the highest level. Depressing that the image of the green revealed only in the uncut version.In addition to these actors, the film scatter most known masters: Tabakov, Efremov, Spivak, Fandera, Bondarchuk, Gorbunov, Mironov and many others.Larger scenes. Especially with pyrotechnics. The scene robberies chariot of the state Treasury, and the scene in Neskuchny garden will certainly remain in Your memory.Music. Do not say, but the music, which was written by Enri Lolashvili beautiful rests on the history and has become a great component of this film. It's heavy, which transmits the gravity of the situation, but yet very beautiful.The good news is that the film was a place for humor. It a bit, but he was very good.In conclusion, I will say that for 10 years, this film is not in any doubt about the assessment.10 out of 10

Befoure I watched the film I was a little disappointed by the reviews. Because such a great cast I expected everyone to sing psalms of the film.Fortunatly the critics in my opinion were mostly wrong. Although Fandorin is shockingly cold the first time we see him, he becomes believable as the film progresses. Mashkov who played Kozyr' is simply amazing. His whole over the top-act, the slang is just so fun to watch. Khabenski does well, and Fandera, who plays Igla is wonderful, very believable. Emiliya Spivak is somewhat irritating, but is what she should have been according to the book. Though of course it is Nikita Mikhalkov who steals the show. A lot can be said about his intrigues at the Russian Film Guild, but he is without a doubt a great actor fit for specific roles. He is at his best when he plays a "Barin", as in "Bespridannica".The action is quick, brutal and not flashy, even the sound of gunfire seems somewhat muffled. There isn't an awful lot of action since it is a Crime movie, not an action film. For some reason they didn't really pay attention to Masa, because he was far too young, and not round enough (according to the book he was "short and round like a barrel"). Green's character was somewhat downsized in the film too, with little background, like the facts that he was Jewish and his whole routine, so I felt that was missed out, because while Igla's motivation is present Green's is none existent. However unless you have read the book you wouldn't notice such nuances, and even if you have not you would not dwell on them.The cinematography is very good, the way light and shadows are used makes some shots worthy of being posters, or photos.So overall I would say that this movie was excellent despite some very minor imperfections.

I watched this movie with my family in a movie theater in Saint-Petersburg. I chose this movie by accident because other movies would start in an hour or so and we didn't have any time.Anyway :) having no expectations at all, I really enjoyed the movie. Honestly, i have to say it is one of the best Russian movies I have ever watched. The story is great (Boris Akunin), casting is great, sound effects are good, decorations are great and actors play very well. You can easily see that a lot of money, effort and talent is put to this movie. It kinda shows the new rise of Russian cinematography and that makes me particularly proud of this movie.This movie is a sort of continuum of the movie Tureckij Gambit (Both are part of Boris Akunin's book series). The two movies are not linked together however, except having the same hero (Fandorin).I recommend this movie to everyone. Way to go Russia ! (y)