Such was the case yesterday when we ducked in to catch “The Death of Stalin” at a large complex near Lincoln Center.
The cast is what pulled me in with the likes of Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey Tambor, Michael Palin and Jason Isaacs.
This is not your mainstream fare, far from it. The story revolves around the few days before and after the death of madman Joseph Stalin.
It would seem impossible to make a comedy, even a dark one about Stalin. Armando Iannucci manages to pull it off. He is best known for his work with the smash TV hit, “Veep” starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Suffice to say this is a fast moving, raucous, irreverent romp through a few days in the life and death of Stalin. Casting Buscemi as Nikita “We will bury you” Khrushchev was a brilliant choice. He is hysterical throughout. Jason Isaacs depiction of the Field Marshall is over the top good. The wonderful Jeffrey Tambor delights as the bumbling, go along to get along and live Assistant Secretary to Stalin.
At times the action and dialogue is so chaotic and crazy that it caused me to squirm more than a little. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this huge departure from the ordinary offerings and recommend it to anyone who enjoys venturing into the not so comfortable or predictable.
Hats off to all involved. It makes me wonder if today’s Russia operates in a similar fashion.
