Tycoon (2002)

Great Film overall

Blistering performances.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Believe me, this movie is absolutely magnificent. But, I suppose it is only "pretty good" for non-Russians. I want to explain one crucial point. All that guys (except, maybe Larry) are not mobsters. All of them have university degrees and some of them are PhD. Yeah, that's true. You see, there was a paradoxical situation in Russia of 90-s. Sudden freedom (as "Sudden Death") made almost entire population poor and indefensible. There was no matter if you are PhD or not. "How far can you go?" That really matters. Actors' performance is on a higher level in the movie, except couple of insignificant supported actors. Mashkov is strong, intelligent and uncompromising. Mironova. Oh, she is the example of natural Russian Beauty. In point of fact, she has played 3 different women: glamorous girl, good-looking divorced woman with a child and then, mature 40+ lady. I was really fascinated with her play. Krasko's character brings some contrast and fun in this thriller. He is the typical representative of Russian "glubinka" (depth of the country). Andrei played very well and made fine subordinate plot. To be honest, financial and other schemes which are represented in "Oligarkh" are too simple and they are far removed from reality. I believe this is the most important drawback. All things considered, I believe that Lungin made very good movie about that weird time. Worth seeing.

the first statement needn't be proved if you've watched it. Indeed the story leaps back and forward, some details leak out too soon, but I liked the movie among other reasons because of good actors such like Vladimir Mashkov and Maria Mironova, who did here their best. the second is clear when you're Russian and read other comments like 'no subtitles and bla'. most not-American movies are not dubbed, so what? -> learn other languages if you're interested in other cultures! just the fact that this title was made in times when people like Khodorkovsky were arrested and that this movie was never broadcasted on the TV-channel which itself co-produced the film, are enough to say it's worth seeing.

Well, the good news is that this is definitely a very fun and entertaining piece of cinema. The bad news is that, like most movies with very few exceptions, it took a cool premise and failed short in delivering it. Storytelling needs a lot of polish, plot resolutions may seem dumb at times, and acting can range from very good to absolutely horrible from scene to scene and from actor to actor. There's very little that this "Russian Godfather" has to say that wasn't already said many times (and much better) in "Godfather", "Scarface", and "Once Upon a Time in America".None of that matters when it comes to the fun factor - unless of course you're one of those self-professed "critics" who spend more time ogling pretty ladies than following the story twists that are neither confusing nor overly complicated, or people who think that any movie that talks about a serious and controversial topic should be strictly unbiased documentary. Be neither, and don't take the movie too seriously.

It gives You whole process of becoming an oligarch in Russia during the Gorbatchov time. The movie highlights one of the major problems of modern Russia: segregation between really reach and powerful people, oligarchs, and the others, the majority which is really poor.Moreover it gives you the chance to understand where and how such people became reach. The majority of ordinary people in Russia considers them as just thieves who swindled with privatisation etc. Indeed the movie describes all the talent of really genial enterpreneur.It's a really well-crafted movie with excellent actor play, great plot and producer work. It's not so predictable as it seems from the beginning so you will have pleasure to watch it. I watched it for several times and wouldn't mind to watch it again. Actually after this movie i started to look at modern politics in Russia from the different angle, and better understand Why someone is acting this or that way. Only this should be enough to watch it...