Statskiy sovetnik (2005)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Filipp Yankovsky

Writers:

Boris Akunin (novel)
Boris Akunin (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 April 2005 (Russia)

Genre:

Drama | Crime

Tagline:

Games are over. This time it is a real Fandorin and a real case.

Plot:

Third film based on Boris Akunin's "Priklucheniya Erasta Petrovicha Fandorina" series of novels. On a train from St...

Plot Keywords:

Moscow | Train | Police | Russian Empire | St. Petersburg Russia

Cast

Nikita Mikhalkov	...	Prince Pozharsky
Oleg Menshikov	...	Erast Petrovich Fandorin
Konstantin Khabenskiy	...	Green
Mikhail Efremov	...	Mylnikov
Vladimir Mashkov	...	Kozyr
Emiliya Spivak	...	Esfir' Litvinova
Oksana Fandera	...	Igla
Aleksey Gorbunov	...	Rahmet
Fyodor Bondarchuk	...	Burchinsky
Oleg Tabakov	...	Prince Dolgoroukoy
Mariya Mironova	...	Julie
Aleksandr Strizhenov	...	Great Prince Simeon Alexandrovich
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pavel Belozerov	...	Larionov
Yuri Golubev	...	Pozharsky's bodyguard
Yuri Kolokolnikov	...	Smolianinov
Vladimir Krasnov	...	Vedishchev
Dmitri Mukhamadeyev	...	Emelya
Masami Ogava	...	Masa
Elena Polyakova
Konstantin Spasskiy	...	Pozharsky's bodyguard
Kirill Tetenkii	...	Snegir'
Yekaterina Vulichenko	...	Maid
Rostislav Yankovsky	...	Khrapov
Igor Yasulovich	...	Aronzon
Vladimir Zaytsev	...	von Zeidlits

Also Known As:

Статский советник (Russia)
The State Counsellor (International: English title)

Runtime:

134 min | Russia:208 min (TV version)

Country:

Russia

Language:

Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Filming Locations:

Belorussky Vokzal, Moscow, Russia

Company:

Channel One Russia

Trivia:

During speech scoring, Vladimir Mashkov who played Kozyr was filming in Los Angeles. To keep the schedule, the company 'Neva-film' which was scoring the movie, transferred the movie to one of the Hollywood studios via satellite. Mashkov scored his role, and the next day the sound producer in St. Petersburg was working with his soundtrack. The soundtrack was coded with two passwords to avoid piracy.

Movie Connections:

Follows Azazel (2002) (TV)

Good but somewhat disappointing

When I've read my first book about Fandorin, I thought "Only Menshikov can play this". That is why since the moment I first heard that Menshikov WILL play Fandorin I was waiting for "Statskiy Sovetnik" to be released and was eager to watch it. And - finally! - my dream came true.

In the beginning I was a bit annoyed by the difference between the movie and the book, though I'm not the person who cares about such things. Then the movie captivated me and I became interested.

The actors' work was brilliant, I especially would like to mention Nikita Mikhalkov, whose portrayal of Pozharsky was absolutely flawless. Konstantin Khabenskiy and Oksana Fandera were very convincing too. The action was rather exciting - at least for me, because for some people long dialogues (or even monologues) can be quite boring. Not for me - I enjoyed every moment.

All in all, when I left the cinema, I was pleased with the movie. But some time later, recollecting the details, I found myself puzzled with the thought of Menshikov's performance. He looked good, he was an ideal Fandorin for me - at least his appearance was suitable - but I got an embarrassing feeling that I saw a ghost, a shadow of Erast Petrovich. It was lifeless, emotionless and insensible. What a disappointment! Fandorin is reserved and self-respecting, NOT nonchalant, haughty and bored of life.

In conclusion I can only say that this is my personal opinion and maybe I simply cannot see the main point of Menshikov's work... But I'm still upset with this Fandorin. I only hope that if there is another movie with Oleg Menshikov playing Erast Fandorin, THAT performance of this undoubtedly talented actor will be different - meaning more lively.