Russian Roulette

...than to invest ninety minutes of viewing on this apparently little-known political/espionage work. (I'd likely have gone 7.5 out of 10 if possible, if 8 might be a bit much.)

Anyway, I wouldn't fully disagree with the more unfavorable reviews already posted here, and I will further grant that there are a few, some not-so-minor, loose plot threads that remain unanswered before curtain, and that the whole finale would never have gone down that way.

Still, overall, I conclude differently. The acting doesn't go overboard, and the writing is about as tight as is reasonably possible, while avoiding over-exposition. So if the plot isn't spoon-fed and in fact takes some time to become clear ("clear"), let's consider that Segal's character is probably in a bit over his head; sure, he's RCMP, but one suspects his billet is not *quite* at the "KGB assassination plot" level. He's been blindsided by the twists and trying to work it all out as he goes along...just like the audience is. I found that pretty enjoyable, actually...

And I appreciated the use of unassuming VFW-class drinkeries, city streets-cum-roller hockey rinks, and interchangeable neighborhood Chinese restaurants as settings, not glittering casinos and ivory tower CEO lairs and the banks of the Riviera. A good RCMP officer would likely have honed his craft on the former, and caught the latter only on the silver screen.

Again, you can do far worse. Don't pay to watch it, but don't avoid it either.

The failure of this stylish thriller, financed by Lew Grade's ITC, effectively ended the directorial career of former Altman editor Lou Lombardo. It's true that "Russian Roulette" takes a while to get going and has an unnecessarily complex plot. However, Lombardo has a nice eye for detail, uses locations well (it is set in wintry Vancouver) and gets the best out of an eclectic cast.

"Russian Roulette" may start slowly but it builds to a cracking climax that is a tour de force of slick editing and exciting music (from the underrated Michael J Lewis). George Segal is well-cast and looks genuinely scared in the vertiginous rooftop shootout. Worth seeing.

Thrills from Lou Lombardo. From the golden age, the vintage year of 1975, back when people didn't work so much from home. Somewhat lengthy and baroque perhaps but loose enough to feel the street level action. Made for a big screen. No shortage of explosions, stunts, bad guys, collisions, jams, helicopter action, in Vancouver, strung together by an unpredictable and fun George Segal who correlates to the disparate points of the conspiracy. Location scenes predominate throughout including from extreme heights. Of course excellent acting. Good color, editing and cinematography. With Christina Raines.

I'd be lying if I claimed I fully understood every tiny little detail of the conspiracy plot in "Russian Roulette", let alone being able to properly write an accurate summary. But the plot isn't the most important element in a conspiracy thriller, at least not according to me. What I like most in flicks about complex conspiracies is high-adrenalin action sequences at regular intervals, a few unexpected twists, a cool cast, and maybe an interesting setting and/or political background.

"Russian Roulette" has all those things. George Segal is surprisingly good as a suspended Canadian Mountie agent who nevertheless receives a special assignment. Soviet prime minister Kosygin is visiting Vancouver, and Shaver (Segal) is instructed to take a man into custody who's named Henke and who's believed to disrupt the official ceremony. But Henke - who only needs one sequence to demonstrate he's a real jerk - gets kidnapped by someone else before Shaver can get to him, and our skeptical Mountie is sucked into a dangerous cat-and-mouse game with the KGB.

Well-directed by Lou Lombardo, usually an editor for eminent directors like Robert Altman and Sam Peckinpah, and featuring several impressive action sequences during the middle as well as a nail-biting finale. Segal and Cristina Raines are excellent together, and there are lovely supportive roles for Denholm Elliott and Louise Fletcher (the latter in a modest role despite the same release year as "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest")

Mountie George Segal is currently on suspension. He is ordered by Special Services to pick up a Russian national; it seems that Alexei Kosygin is coming to Vancouver, and they don't want this guy on the street. Before Segal can pick him up, he is kidnapped, and Segal must find out by whom and why.

I've seen Vancouver in person once, and hundreds of times in the movies, although it's usually masquerading as some other place. Because it arose as a place for Hollywood to shoot movies that satisfied the British Kinematograph Act, it developed as a cheap film center. In person, it's a very handsome city,and this is the first time I recall seeing it as itself. It's worth seeing for that.

It's also worth seeing for Segal's performance. He was a fine actor, adept at playing a schlub, but here's he's believable as a man of action. The movie is eked out with the usual assortment of Hollywood and British movie performers, like Denholm Elliott, Peter Jackson, Nigel Stock, and Louise Fletcher. My favorite role seems to be anonymous: a little old lady who can't remember Segal's sweetly spoken instructions to call the Mounties and tell them that Kosygin will be shot.