Gorky Park: pretty good movie

Cafe Society
1

I saw this was on MGM On Demand so I thought I’d watch it. I was pleasantly surprised. Good performances from William Hurt, Brian Dennehy and Lee Marvin. A pretty involving plot about Cold War Russia and the Sable trade, which I thought was pretty interesting.

But the best part was playing “who’s that guy when he was younger” from the supporting cast. A really young Alexei Sayle. The main guy from Waking Ned Devine. Emperor Palpatine as a forensic skull-face-recreator. Even Harry Potter’s Muggle guardian had a small role.

Check it out.

2

I remember enjoying it; I thought it perfectly captured Martin Cruz Smith’s novel - bleak, frightening, a realistic-seeming portrait of life in the late-stage USSR.

MCS wrote four or five novels continuing the story, all pretty good, especially as they tracked the fall of Communism and the consequences of the USSR’s breakup. Recommended.

3

Wow, that was a long time ago. I remember seeing that in theatres when it first came out.

And I remember really liking it.

4

Bumping to say that Gorky Park was an answer on Jeopardy last night. Perceptual vigilance in action!

5

We were listening to the 1812 Overture the other night and I asked my husband if he’d seen it. I was about to describe the plot but decided I’d rather not spoil it for him. I’ve seen it a bunch of times; at one time it was one of about four VHS tapes I owned.

I get cold just thinking about that movie. Brrr.

6

It’s been a long time, but I remember enjoying it when I first saw it.