“Armando Iannucci, known to North American audiences via Veep but also the director behind Steve Coogan’s Alan Partridge character on British TV, does a delightful take-down of absolutist regimes in this black comedy about Stalin’s toadies all jockeying for power after the big man is felled by a stroke.
“Most of us will know that Nikita Khrushchev (a clowning wise guy courtesy of Steve Buscemi) will somehow win his battle for power against the secret service boss Lavrentiy Beria (Simon Russell Beale creates a depraved bully). But getting there is suspenseful enough to make this the rare satire that never wears out its welcome as the Keystone Cops try to find the ailing Stalin a doctor – Beria’s thugs have killed all the good ones – and then plan his state funeral.
“There is one thing that power can’t stand, and that is to be mocked: The social importance of this topical romp should not be underestimated.” - The Globe and Mail
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