I did something so insulting.... so blasphemous... so abhorrent. 

Ready? 

I watched this film on the plane. 

BUT

I still laughed my ass off and think it’s one of my faves so far this year. The comic timing is impeccable. The performances shine. My god... Paddy Considine really shows his comedy chops. 

Loved it and recommend seeing it ASAP. But not on a plane... it deserves better.

VEEP meets CITY OF GOD.

more grim than funny, but still plenty funny. by far my favorite thing that Armando Iannucci has ever done.

“Who would put a lamp on a chair?”

Unabashedly declaring this the best
[dark (as FUCK)] comedy of last year;

Iannucci's the master political satirist.

75

Fucking hysterical, mostly for showcasing the idiocy in group government dynamics while never shying away from the violence and complete disregard for human life around the chaotic remnants of the regime. In various scenes set inside the torture chambers, background bodies are shot (both on and off screen), conveying the same narrative function as a moment where a nameless prisoner tumbles outrageously down the stairs. The Death of Stalin wrestles with hilarity and horror within the same confined, decedent spaces, and the disruptions of each are startling. In a showing before mine, a woman apparently yelled "Communism isn't funny!" before storming out. Of course, even if it wasn't funny (and The Death of Stalin almost constantly is -like a squabbling contest between imbeciles), the film suggests something far worse: that it's true and, to quote The Giant in Twin Peaks, "it is happening again."

Now that's a fucking dark comedy. Very very funny and sharp and brilliant, but tonally upsetting and maybe a little confusing in a way I need some time to process? Or, just need to know more about history for. Who can say! I think I liked it!

- "HOW OLD ARE YOU?"
- "I'm.......... old?"
- "YOU'RE NOT OLD!"

Walks a perfect tightrope between hilarious and unsettling. Iannucci takes his patented style of political satire and attacks authoritarianism at full force. There are moments where the 1953 Kremlin starts looking like the 2018 White House and that's when the chills set in.

“ I know the drill. Smile, shake hands, and try not to call them cunts.”

me, a history major: I’m just an alt-history loving son of a bitch*

*I am also a Veep loving son of a bitch, thank you Armando Iannucci

I don't know enough about the events around Stalin's death to say whether or not The Death of Stalin makes some good historical jokes or references, (Although I can probably say with confidence that it's not a movie you should look to for historical accuracy. But then again, if you're watching a movie for its historical accuracy, I don't know what I could say to help you...) but I can say that it was very entertaining. Steve Buscemi and Jeffrey Tambor were high points for me, and the situational comedy was excellent.

I think the thing that most surprised me about this film were the moments when the comedy completely dissolved and gave way to moments of real ugliness and terror.

why was the guy from p&p so funny im still screaming dkdkdjdjd

The surreal horror of Stalin and his legacy is taken through the wringer in this comedy of terrors. Back stabbing, power grabbing, vicious violence, and occasional moments of tragic humanity. Stalin was a monster and he helped to create a nightmare world of paranoia and murder. Perhaps the grim humor of this will help someone get through the nastier side of things. I hate to classify it as a satire. I feel like satire often employs allegory and symbolism. This basically just tells the story of what happened, but in a way that allows the audience to laugh, because otherwise we'd cry.

This movie take place in Moscow in 1953. Stalin has been in power for about thirty years. It is a satire based on his death and the power struggle of his cabinet members to take his place. The movie stars Steve Buscemi, Simon Russell Beale and Jeffrey Tambor. I think the movie would have been better served as a Historical Drama rather than a Comedy. This was a terrible time for the Russian people. People were indiscriminately being executed, hungry and hated their government. It is nothing that should be made light of and yet this movie tried and with me at least failed.

Steve Buscemi is *born* for this kind of role/film, and his performance never disappoints. The frenetic pace of the last 20 minutes keep the pitch black cynicism from curdling into outright horror...but only just barely.