Why It Ranks
The Death of Stalin is the sharpest political satire of the 2010s. Iannucci proved that totalitarian power struggles are just office politics with execution lists. Jason Isaacs' Zhukov entrance is the most charismatic 30 seconds in any comedy this decade. Banned in Russia, which is the best review possible.
The Film
The Death of Stalin is the most vicious political comedy since Dr. Strangelove. Armando Iannucci adapted a French graphic novel about the power struggle following Stalin's death and let his cast — Steve Buscemi as Khrushchev, Simon Russell Beale as Beria, Jason Isaacs as Zhukov — play Soviet leaders as panicking middle managers. The decision to let everyone use their natural accents (Brooklyn, English, Yorkshire) is genius — it strips away the 'foreign film' reverence and exposes the universal pettiness of power.
Fun Facts
The film was banned in Russia for 'extremism' — the Russian Ministry of Culture called it 'an unfunny pamphlet.'
Jason Isaacs improvised Zhukov's entrance and most of his dialogue — his Yorkshire accent was his own choice.
Steve Buscemi studied Khrushchev's actual political maneuvering to play the 'stupid one' who outsmarts everyone.
The scene where the committee argues over who sits closest to Stalin's body was based on actual accounts from Soviet historians.
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