Movie Reviews for Tycoon - A New Russian

Tycoon - A New Russian

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Movie Reviews of Tycoon - A New Russian

Movie Review: Stranger than Fiction
Summary: 5 Stars

Tycoon, like The Godfather, may not be strictly accurate, but is in a profound way utterly true. Based not very loosely on the life of Boris Berezovsky, a real-life Russian oligarch who got his start in the car smuggling rackets, the movie depicts the meteoric rise of Platon Markovski, a Jewish mathematics student with an abundance of guts and guile. Markovski puts his considerable charm and ingenuity to work inventing a new breed of capitalism amid the anarchy of 1990s Russia.

Markovski and his loyal band of brothers run afoul of scheming Kremlin bureacrats who want their piece of the capitalist action without leaving the security of their government posts. The battle between the bureaucrats and the oligarch prefigures Vladimir Putin's real-life confrontations with Mikhail Khodorkovsky and other malefactors of great wealth.

The movie is overstuffed with characters and incidents, but Director Pavel Lungin keeps it all pumping furiously forward. Tycoon is a triumph of old fashioned storytelling and, like the Godfather, is filled with small moments of warmth and humor along with operatic drama. As outrageous as the plot turns get, none of it - the hypercreative business deals, the buying of politicians, the wild west shootouts between the state and the capitalists - is stranger than what actually happened in Russia over the past 15 years.

The acting and directing are uniformly excellent. This movie, while remaining true to its gangster tale roots, manages to indict an entire society for losing its ideals and sense of human connection once it discovers the delirious delights of the dollar.

Movie Review: Tycoon: A New Russian
Summary: 5 Stars

The Tycoon is a good movie showing the rise of a new Russian, allegedly resembling Berezovsky. It is fast and funny, and it genuinely reflects realities of the new Russia. Russia has had a tragic 20th century, with grotesque leaders all the way through: the weak and talentless Nickolas II, the crazy people-hater Lenin, the blood-thirsty Stalin, the clown Khruschev, the brainless chatter-box Gorbachev, and the alcoholic and hypocrite Yeltsyn. So the new business genius Platon, continuing this tradition of criminal activities, starts also as a criminal and, together with his gang of mates, creates an empire helped by the mafia from the Caucasus, an Afghan war crippled hero, and someone whose name is never mentioned, but who is obviously the new czar. Platon is portrayed as a heroic figure fighting injustice and at some stage you even empathize with him. He loves his friends, is a good husband and father, and is so full of energy and joy of life... But then we realize that he is another criminal, except he had more brains, stamina and courage to climb to the summit than others whom he ruthlessly eliminates, in particular after they killed his buddies. He stole what belonged to the whole nation. Nevertheless, he is someone we should know in order to understand this great country.

The artistic value of the film is high, the actors are brilliant, and it is a passionate affair with the new Russia and its talented people.

Movie Review: Deserves all five stars
Summary: 5 Stars

If you come accross this movie, go ahead and watch it. I didn't find the story fantastic at all. This is what happens in third world countries. As reviewers we can't give away plot line and spoil it for everybody. The main character Plato is successfully assinated after some fifteen attempts and the story is told through flashbacks to great effect. A coterie is pulled and pushed againts each other in a game of finding a traitor. Along the way Plato earn enemies and friends. Among the most virulent enemies is a corrupt Russian aristrocat whose wife Plato bangs and I will leave it at that. I think one of the most intriguing character is the district attorney who is investigating Plato and his billion dollar firm INFOCAR. His motives are not entirely clear but the this DA is uncovering all kinds of stuff.

Movie Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars

An excellent, informative and fascinating movie. It is spellbinding and tragic. Although it gets to a slow start, it picks up speed and never stops for breath. I enjoyed every minute of it and it is a telling story of what happens during a national renewal and the often fatal conflict between money and power.