Admiral (2008)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Andrei Kravchuk

Writers:

Zoya Coudrie (co-writer)
Vladimir Valutsky (writer)

Release Date:

9 October 2008 (Armenia)

Genre:

Drama | History | War

Tagline:

"Vysshiy sostav" ("The Highest Command")

Plot:

This is a story of a great love facing the greatest drama of the history of Russia.

Plot Keywords:

Admiral | One Word Title | White Army | Sea Mine | Russian Revolution

Cast

Konstantin Khabenskiy	...	Admiral
Elizaveta Boyarskaya	...	Anna
Sergey Bezrukov	...	General Kappel
Vladislav Vetrov	...	Sergey Timirev
Anna Kovalchuk	...	Sofia
Egor Beroev	...	Mikhail Smirnov
Richard Bohringer	...	General Zhannen
Oleg Fomin	...	Nikolay Podgurskiy
Anatoliy Pashinin	...	Rostislav Ognivtsev
Dmitriy Shcherbina	...	Vladimir Rybaltovskiy
Viktor Verzhbitskiy	...	Kerenskiy
Aleksandr Klyukvin	...	Premer-minister Pepelyaev
Fyodor Bondarchuk	...	Kinorezhisser Sergey Fyodorovich
Nikolay Burlyaev	...	Imperator
Olga Ostroumova

Also Known As:

Адмиралъ (Russia)
The Admiral (International: English title) (informal title)

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

Russia

Language:

Russian | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Omsk, Siberia, Russia

Company:

Film Direction

Trivia:

The title uses old Russian orthography, abandoned after the October Socialist Revolution of 1917.

Goofs:

Factual errors: During the opening sequence at the Baltic Sea (November 1916, according to the captions), Admiral Kolchak identifies the pursuing German battleship as the SMS Friedrich Carl and enters his own minefield in order to escape. Later, when the Germans are about to blast the immobile and damaged Russian vessel, they strike a mine and their ship blows apart and sinks within seconds with a clear big loss of lives. Actually, although the SMS Friedrich Carl was in fact sunk by Russian mines, this happened to years before than the movie shows (November 1914). Besides, she stayed afloat for several hours, enough for the battle cruiser SMS Augsburg to arrive to the scene and rescue most of the crew, and only 8 crew members were lost. (In reference to a deliberate mistake, it is very unlikely that an experienced seaman and high rank officer such as Kolchak had mistaken a ship for one that the entire Russian navy knew had sunk two years before.)

the Mediocre film

Theme of white movement one of the most interesting and grasping in the history of Russia the XX-th centuries. It is history of the people who have chosen the way, distinct from others. And victims for the ideals. Someone it is valorous, someone it is disgraceful. Kolchak was the leader of white movement and it was actually possible to create a fine film. But, again unfortunately it has not turned out … Well when it will turn out?! Actually we will not stop on historical errors of a film, we will notice that they were, however as well as in many other films.

The main thing that is evident throughout all film is immense PATHOS, is direct to a nausea. The first fighting scene, with the German ship, in the beginning develops impression that we and do not resist to the opponent, at us a heap of the wounded and killed simple sailors. And Kolchak somehow easy goes and observes of it. Such sensation that Kolchak untouchable, also it is necessary to show in a considerable quantity a meat grinder from stupid and worthless Russian sailors. And then Kolchak will show a master class and will damage the enemy ship. Then a scene with passage through mines. There was an impression that if Kolchak has not prayed, we would not pass. And, Germans have forgotten, and in vain, and for it have rigidly paid off.

Now about a love story. To what genius has come to mind to invite this actress Liza Boyarskaya. I certainly understand that her daddy the fine actor, but it not so is often descended. Its game is simply awful. It is a pity that in Russia so cinema clans are strong. Well and so, Liza Boyarskaya such sensation that in first half of film plays the full silly woman. That, a silly smile with glass eyes does not understand even elementary things. In second half of film she repeats «I love you, Alexander Vasilevich» some times for a film, but, apparently, that to her all these recognitions are absolutely indifferent. To it whether it is boring, whether it is opposite, whether simply it would be desirable to smoke.

Khabensky also not so approaches. In general it looks like the shtabs-captain … It speaks about feelings more, but these words are incorporeal and empty. What to us try to show, what an admiral only and did, what prayed?! And still ran from red faster a hare in wood. Probably, he loved one woman of more Russia. And destiny in which he has started to trust has deprived of it, both Russia, and the beloved.

Bezrukov has not badly played. But what it has shown, brave, to nonsense of the general because of which it has ruined himself and Kolchak?! Who really was pleasant so it Kovalchuk. Has perfectly played it is a pity that to it has got so poorly screen time. Almost only its scenes with an admiral have caused in me though any emotions. Thanks.

Unpleasant feeling has left selection and other actors. Literally everyone not in the role. As result — any emotions from game.

As a result once again I will repeat that it is very a pity...

Thanks for attention.