Lev Prygunov Movies
After nearly a half-a-century of silence, the final secret of Josef Stalin reveals itself to a former Oxford historian who is currently attending a Russian conference for the newly opened Soviet archives in a tense international thriller starring Daniel Craig (Casino Royale). Fluke Kelso (Craig) is on his way out of Russia when an unexpected visit from an ex-officer of the Soviet Secret Police offers hints of a deadly scandal. Later, when the mysterious former agent is found brutally slain, Kelso enlists the aid of the man's daughter Zinaida in finding the answer to a mystery that was presumably buried along with the Soviet Union dictator back in 1953. When Fluke and Zinaida travel to the remote Russian seaport of Archangel in search of the elusive truth, the vengeance of both the Russian authorities and the dangerous underworld threatens to silence them both and keep Stalin's secret buried for yet another half-a-century. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Daniel Craig, Yekaterina Rednikova, (more)
- 2003
- PG13
Veteran film producer John Daly makes his directorial debut with the romantic drama The Petersburg-Cannes Express, based on the novel by Hans Koning. Set in 1904 during the Bolshevik Revolution, the story follows young Russian revolutionary named Sophie (Svetlana Lunkina) who travels to France to avenge her brother's death. When she is arrested and deported, Alexie Tolchev (Nolan Hemmings) comes to her rescue aboard the titular train. The Petersburg-Cannes Express premiered in Palm Springs, CA, in March 2003. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
- Starring:
- Nolan Hemmings, Svetlana Lunkina, (more)
- 2002
- R
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Originally presented in two parts by the CBS network, Master Spy is the true story of Robert Hanssen, a disgruntled FBI agent who, for 20 years, systematically sold out his country to the former Soviet Union. The film depicts Hanssen (played by William Hurt) as hyper-intelligent and hyper-sensitive, frustrated by what he perceives to be the mediocrity of his fellow federal agents (at one point in the story, Hanssen's boss advises him to "dumb down" if he hopes to survive in the agency). Hanssen's self-imposed lofty standards and values are somewhat at odds with his rather kinky sexual preferences, and with his habit of spending far more than he earns. In danger of losing everything he owns due to improvident financial transactions, Hanssen proves to be ripe for plucking by the Soviet KGB, which offers him wealth beyond his wildest dreams if he will simply transfer top secret information to the Russians. Throughout his career of duplicity and treachery, Hanssen enjoys the unswerving loyalty of his wife, Bonnie (Mary-Louise Parker), who remains blissfully ignorant of his double-agent activities until the day of his arrest. Scripted by the inimitable Norman Mailer, Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story aired over two consecutive weekends, on November 10 and 17, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- William Hurt, Mary-Louise Parker, (more)
Based on the popular novels about that other suave, globe-trotting man of action, this genre picture from director Phillip Noyce mixed romance and character development with dangerous stunts, geopolitical intrigue, and a variety of elaborate disguises, resulting in an uneven stew of a spy thriller. Val Kilmer is Simon Templar, a classy, cunning master thief and "man of a thousand faces" who cribs his phony names from those of obscure saints and sells his illegal services to the highest bidder. Hired by an ambitious Russian politician (Rade Serbedzija) to steal the formula for cold fusion, Templar falls in love with Dr. Emma Russell (Elisabeth Shue), the frail Oxford scientist who has unlocked the secret of the process. Back in Moscow, the thief debates whether to betray his new love or the powerful madman who is paying him millions, until he discovers that his client is concealing oil reserves that could save his freezing people. Often seen as an also-ran to the legendary James Bond, Templar, the creation of author Leslie Charteris, in fact predated the first Bond novel by decades and probably inspired Ian Fleming in his creation of the debonair agent. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Starring:
- Val Kilmer, Elisabeth Shue, (more)
- 1988
Three young sisters enjoy their romp in the woods in this symbolic drama. They prepare for a birthday party for the oldest girl at their grandmother's house. The trio perceives the world outside to be a "garden of desire," but their idyllic splendor is soon disturbed by the initial rumblings of the impending war. The birthday girl has premonitions of disaster, and their beloved father is soon arrested and is never seen again. After a bomb supposedly obliterates everything, two blond children are seen skipping through a cemetery. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Marianna Velezheva, Irina Shustaieva, (more)
