A vodka-stained satire of government oppression and popular inaction. An attack not content to merely point its weapons at the easy enemies, but also at the hard heroes. An angry cry for change on both sides.

Languid, moody landscapes washed out in drab browns and blues. A world without the color of enjoyment. Society as a skeletal vessel, decaying after years of squandered potential.

As cynical as I get about awards season, I'm thankful that it gave theaters a reason to play this great foreign film instead of sticking with the latest releases. In general I find myself leaning more toward older films, but this one looks really beautiful on the big screen and feels like a Russian classic in the making.

87th Academy Awards Checklist
2014: Yearly Releases

"Can you pull in Leviathan with a fishhook or tie down its tongue with a rope? Will it keep begging you for mercy? Will it speak to you with gentle words? Nothing on earth is its equal. It is king over all that are proud."

Is the problem with Kolya, the reason he struggles under the rule of the Leviathan, that he's too proud? Would he be able to conquer the beast if he could humble himself enough to accept help from those who have wronged him?