Film Reviews

Night Watch

• Rating:
• Director: Timur Bekmambetov.
• Starring: Konstantin Khabensky, Vladimir Menshov,Mariya Poroshina, Dmitry Martynov, Zhanna Friske, Ilya Lagutenko, Viktor Verzhbitsky
• Details: Russia / 114mins / (18)

Well, things change. Down came the Berlin wall and the Soviet edifice tumbled soon after. Out went state-approved film production and in came ersatz Hollywood-style film making. Hollywoodski, if you like. This film, the first of a proposed trilogy, was a rip roaring block buster on its home turf, got picked up by Rupert Murdoch's boutique distribution outfit, Fox Searchlight, and is getting the widest distribution achieved by any Russian film in Ireland. There is much to like and some brilliant moments displayed but, like a Russian mafia mobster's moll, just because you can buy all the designer labels it doesn't do to wear all of them at the one time. The CGI box of tricks is especially abused in this tale of 'others' among us fighting the age-old battle between light and darkness in contemporary Moscow. You will see more digital crows in this film than there are pine trees in Siberia. See it if you will, and you should because they may ease back on the throttle for the next two films, and I wouldn't be surprised if those sequels were given English versions. But, for a real glimse into the Russian heart of darkness, also see Elem Klimov's Come and See at the IFI on Thursday 15th November. That film is a work of genius.

Review by Ted Sheehy