Rasputin

the great problem is the huge ambition to create a spectacular fresco using a good cast only at level of names. because the story seems unclear, Depardieu fight with a character who has not roots, the aspects of Imperial family's life are presented in superficial manner, all seems be a puzzle with wrong pieces' positions. Depardieu could be a decent Rasputin. but not with the script of that film. Fanny Ardant looking for the most inspired manner to recreate Empress Alexandra 's traits or Mashkov as sketch of Nicholas II are not in the most comfortable position. result - all seems be an improvisation. sketch for use Depardieu in one of his desired roles. after the end of film, only the regrets for the poor actors. and for the poor Rasputin.

it is far to be remarkable and far to be bad. it represents only an introduction, almost decent, to subject. not real convincing but interesting for cast. a tribute for Russia from Depardieu. and its basic unlucky is, maybe, the existence of few real good films about Rasputin, many books and documentaries. so, it could be only expression of good intentions. nothing more. and it is not enough. the bad detail is the absence of courage for director who ignores many opportunities to do an interesting story. than, the manner to create the image of hero by Depardieu who use, in comfortable way, the West clichés about subject. short, a lot pieces without links. images , a not inspired script about a delicate theme , about a dark hero who remains, in this case, unfortunately, only a shadow.

Despite a story offering huge dramatic possibilities and two top French actors, who can both inhabit a role and project charisma, the version shown on French TV too often seemed to show animated waxworks in sumptuous settings mouthing predictable dialogue. Perhaps the Russian version was better.

It is nice quite film. You can see very pure, simple man Rasputin. But he was a like Doctor of Medicine. He could hypnotize.He helped many sick people. He liked a vines, vodka, dance and women and they loved him also.He loved the tsar and his family and they love him .

It was story of love this simple man and family of tsar of Russia Nikolai. But rich people hated him, tsar and his wife(She was born in German.). They thought that Ruspotine and she was German spy. It was terrible to see, how tsar refused from his state and people. He hadn't any friends. This film is tragedy, but we start love many persons after this film. They did that all that they can do. They had not all knowledge what it was happened. And all they had a very soft character. They not created from steel and stones. It is true, real story.

Beautifully filmed at the original locations. Fanny Ardant (now aged 63) should portray a 34-old Zarina Alexandra, but makeup too, doesn't help. Depardieu is cheap and even more helpless. That may come from a poor script and an uninspiring direction. With all the recent historical information about the whole affair and its real political backgrounds, a more understandable and psychologically credible plot could have been done. Incidentally, Felix Yussupov (Rasputin's murderer) was a homosexual and not a transvestite; he did not seduce Rasputin dressed up as a woman. Compared to earlier Rasputin movies, one could even prefer Uli Edel's of 1996 with Alan Rickman. The absolutely best Rasputin movie, however, is Elem Klimov's "Agoniya" from 1981, starring an unforgettable Alexei Petrenko.