Category Archives: Michael Elphick

1983 Films, Brian Dennehy, Crime Thriller, Ian Bannen, Ian McDiarmid, Joanna Pacuła, Lee Marvin, Michael Apted, Michael Elphick, Political Thriller, Richard Griffiths, Rikki Fulton, Thriller, William Hurt

Gorky Park-1983

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Gorky Park-1983

Director Michael Apted

Starring William Hurt, Lee Marvin, Joanna Pacula

Scott’s Review #1,522

Reviewed March 8, 2026

Grade: B+

Gorky Park (1983) is an aptly named thriller set in Moscow, Russia, involving a mysterious triple murder of three young adults while ice skating at the titled central park. In addition to being murdered, their faces have been skinned and their fingerprints removed.

Russian detective Arkady Renko (William Hurt) uncovers a network of deceit and intrigue when he investigates the murders.

As he tries to make progress on the case, it becomes apparent that the KGB doesn’t want the homicide to be solved, and Renko needs to know why. He eventually meets an American businessman, Jack Osborne (Lee Marvin), who offers some clues, but Renko soon realizes that Osborne may be involved in the plot.

He also meets and falls in love with a mysterious young woman, Irina Asanova (Joanna Pacula), who owned the ice skates found on one of the victims.

The film succeeds in outlining a compelling story that doesn’t lag and in providing a cold, wintry atmosphere, just what one would expect from the drab Russian environment. The audience knows deadly shananigans have occurred, and the film is fun to watch as it tries to connect the dots.

Even though the action is palpable, the ensuing mystery can feel overly complicated at times and hard to follow, leading to an overwhelming feeling.

Accepting Hurt, an American actor, as a Russian police investigator takes some time. For the first thirty minutes, I thought he was an American character.  He sometimes shows hints of an English accent and no Russian at all.

Once I accepted this, Hurt does a very good job at leading the film, which is a tough ask given the complexities of the story. He is handsome and a good guy wanting to do the right thing, so he’s easy to root for.

The film is adapted from the 1981 novel written by Martin Cruz Smith.

While most of the film is set in Moscow, the action later shifts to Stockholm, Sweden, a city I adore. Due to the Cold War conflicts between the Soviet Union and the United States, the film was obviously not shot in Moscow.

Finland and Sweden were the chosen filming locations.

As hard as I tried to follow the main plot, my mind occasionally wandered because there are KGB elements, Jack Osborne, Irina, and an American detective, William Kurwill, in the mix, as well as various colleagues and connections to Renko.

Any or all of these characters or organizations could be involved in the murders, and minor red herrings like the creepy Professor who recreates the victim’s heads and Irina, who comes off as a cold and unfeeling, emerge as the story goes along.

Despite the story’s complexities, Gorky Park is filmed very well and rises above the ranks of mediocrity it could have fallen into, since countless other political and crime thrillers have used the tired Russia/United States rivalry.

The elements are the best part because numerous snowy and bleak sequences enhance the overall story and atmosphere. A scene in woodsy Sweden is wonderfully cold and white, with the woods and a shack coming into play.

The romantic storyline between Renko and Irina is more plot-driven than anything fresh. It’s predictable from the moment the characters meet as they delve into a strong dislike that becomes a love formula.

While there are some cliches to endure, like menacing ‘type’ characters and the overuse of the word ‘comrade’, the film surprisingly feels crisp, and the big reveal and the hows and whys of a sable fur smuggling organization, though years later, feel dated, are interesting.

I’m not sure I need to see Gorky Park (1983) again, but considering it’s a political/crime thriller amid hundreds of similar films, it stands a bit above the rest.

1973 Films, Arthur Lowe, Christine Noonan, Comedy, Dandy Nichols, Dark Comedy, Edward Judd, Helen Mirren, Lindsay Anderson, Malcolm McDowell, Michael Elphick, Michael Medwin, Mona Washbourne, Musical, Musical Comedy, Philip Stone, Rachel Roberts, Ralph Richardson, Vivian Pickles

O Lucky Man!-1973

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O Lucky Man! -1973

Director Lindsay Anderson

Starring Malcolm McDowell, Ralph Richardson, Helen Mirren

Scott’s Review #1,174

Reviewed September 1, 2021

Grade: A-

O Lucky Man! (1973) is a satirical black comedy that mixes musical numbers with a message about capitalism from the driven protagonist. Like a great fine wine, the film has aged well and is still relevant decades later.

The film is a slow build, but by the end of its nearly three-hour running time, I was enamored and hummed the title song repeatedly.

I’m still humming it as I write this review.

It is suggested that O Lucky Man! be watched in two or three segments for full appreciation. One sitting would be incredibly tough, since some of the events require reflection and thought.

An ambitious young British man, Mick Travis (Malcolm McDowell), is determined to be successful at all costs. Debuting as a coffee salesman, Mick is quickly promoted within his company. Events take a series of bizarre turns when a military agency abducts Mick.

Later, he becomes smitten with the gorgeous Patricia (Helen Mirren) and winds up working for her father, sinister executive Sir James Burgess (Ralph Richardson). As Mick’s tale continues, his experiences get progressively stranger.

The clever aspect is that just when you think Mick’s life is dour and drab, he rebounds more successful than ever. Hence the title of the film. So, there is an element of adventure and romance amid the capitalist plot.

Lindsay Anderson, who directed O Lucky Man!, re-casts McDowell again in the same role he first played as a disaffected public schoolboy in his first film performance in If… (1968).

I did not realize this when I watched O Lucky Man!, and I think this knowledge would have made me catch on to the events and subtext even more.

Now, I need to rewatch If…

I did, however, ruminate constantly on McDowell’s other iconic role in A Clockwork Orange (1971) as Alex. The characters are quite similar, save that Alex is a juvenile delinquent rather than a rising corporate guy like Mick.

This is in large part due to McDowell’s looks and acting style. His trademark sneer and bright blue eyes make him mesmerizing in both roles.

I even spotted an actor who played one of the infamous droogs!

A plus for the film is that several actors appear in multiple roles, some of whom are difficult to distinguish. Part of the fun is trying to figure out who’s who.

There isn’t a whole lot of chemistry between McDowell and Mirren, but it’s interesting to see the shifting characteristics of the characters.

And Patricia is fascinating. When she asks why people work so hard for things instead of just taking them, we realize she places no value on things because she’s never had to work for them. She’s a rich daddy’s girl.

There are reasons not to like her, but I still did. When she winds up in a homeless lot, it’s shocking. And I also loved the character of Mick and his epic journey. He is imprisoned and then reformed in a humanistic way, just like Alex was in A Clockwork Orange.

But the best part of O Lucky Man! is the music. Anderson takes periodic breaks from the drama to treat his audience to a musical number, performed by Alan Price.

It’s comforting to sit back and enjoy the unforgettable tunes that pepper the film. One could argue that the songs almost usurp the main action, but I found them to be great companions to the other.

As if there was any doubt, the soundtrack was widely lauded and was a huge financial success.

A surreal effort, sometimes happy or tragic but always insightful and oftentimes delightful, McDowell, Price, and Anderson are at the top of their respective games.

O Lucky Man! (1973) is a terrific watch, brimming with good juices if one has the patience to let events marinate.