The Death of Stalin makes political panic look like a terrible workplace meeting. The ensemble and the rapid changes in allegiance make the comedy sharp, while the fear underneath it remains hard to ignore.
Spoiler-free review.
The Death of Stalin is very funny about people trying to work out what the safest opinion is. A pause can mean calculation rather than uncertainty, and agreement can be revised almost immediately. Armando Iannucci gives those adjustments a quick, uncomfortable rhythm. The comedy comes from watching people who know that a mistake has consequences.
The cast is a big part of what makes the film work. Steve Buscemi brings a jittery, anxious feel to his bargaining, while Simon Russell Beale plays his character with a more smug, unsettling confidence. Their different styles make the group scenes really lively. Everyone is always on guard, looking for an edge or a way out, which keeps even the most mundane conversations interesting.
I liked the way the dialogue makes authority sound improvised. People try to turn a preference into a rule, then discover that somebody else has already made a stronger claim. The film is good at finding the absurdity in procedures without suggesting that the danger is merely absurd. Fear is doing real work in these exchanges.
The fast pace means some side characters feel a bit rushed, and the satire is clearly meant to be over-the-top in parts. But the main theme stays strong. The film makes the power struggle look silly while still showing how brutal it can be. That mix gives the comedy more weight than just a bunch of witty lines would have.
2017 · English. Film details
The Death of Stalin makes political panic look like a terrible workplace meeting. The ensemble and the rapid changes in allegiance make the comedy sharp, while the fear underneath it remains hard to ignore.
— Desly