Back in the U.S.S.R.

CineVerse strolled back to the dawn of the Reagan era with its exploration of "Moscow on the Hudson" last night. While it was fun to see now-dated early 1980s product placements for Sanka coffee and Sergio Valente jeans, the film still possesses a resonance that can be appreciated by today's audiences. Here's what we concluded:

WHAT DID YOU FIND INTERESTING, DIFFERENT OR SURPRISING ABOUT “MOSCOW ON THE HUDSON” THAT PERHAPS YOU DIDN’T ANTICIPATE?

·       The film is replete with racial and ethnic minorities, including an African American friend, an Italian girlfriend, a Cuban lawyer, a Korean taxi driver, a Chinese anchorwoman, etc.

·       Roger Ebert suggested one of this movie’s strengths is: “It’s a comedy that finds most of its laughs in the close observations of human behavior.”

·       Ebert also noted that the picture is “a rarity, a patriotic film that has a liberal, rather than a conservative, heart. It made me feel good to be an American.”

·       They actually have the actors, including Williams, speak in authentic Russian, as opposed to some films where the ethnic types speak in English but we’re supposed to believe they’re talking in their native tongues.

·       This feels like a well-researched movie, and it was: Mazursky and his team prepped for the film by interviewing Russian immigrants about their experiences and by visiting Russia. Mazursky was quoted as saying: "Most Russians are just trying to survive. Yet, all Russians who leave their country leave behind something they treasure and love. It's a terrible conflict for them, so the act of bravery is overwhelming."

·       This is not a gag-a-minute, silly comedy that tries to overexploit Williams’ manic talents; it arguably could be funnier. However, the filmmakers were going for more than big belly laughs here: their aim was to make you think about the immigration experience, which has comedic elements, but is also meant to be dramatic, poignant, and emotional.

WHAT ARE SOME THEMES EXAMINED IN “MOSCOW ON THE HUDSON”?

·       The film posits the question: What does it mean to be an American? After all, no one is truly an original American except for the Native American Indians; the rest of us had ancestors that came from other countries, like Vlad.

·       The U.S., and the world for the matter, is one big melting pot and collective spirit, or at least it should be; New York is a great backdrop in which to play out this multicultural message of positivity.

·       We need to stop taking our liberties, freedoms and American way of life for granted and think about how envied we are by less fortunate foreigners, many of whom are simply looking for the same chances and opportunities and simple joys we are provided.

WHY IS ROBIN WILLIAMS THE RIGHT CASTING CHOICE FOR THE PART OF VLADAMIR?

·       While this isn’t an acting tour de force worthy of an Oscar, it does showcase Williams’ range a bit early in his career as more than a funnyman.

·       He possesses Slavic features, including a very hairy body that is surprisingly fully on display in the lovemaking scene—American audiences typically think of hairy bodies as unattractive and gross, which is why we rarely see them except in gross-out comedies (think Borat). Williams also pulls off the Russian accent pretty well.

·       Vladamir is a likeable character, and Williams, with his infectious energy and enthusiasm, is easy to like, so it’s a good match.

SOME ISSUES VIEWERS MAY HAVE WITH THIS FILM:

·       We don’t see any particular catalyst or trigger point that explains why Vlad suddenly decides to defect; previous to the defection scene in Bloomingdales, we see him try hard to dissuade his circus performer friend from defecting; also, Vlad is depicted as relatively content and accepting of his oppressed and predictable life in Russia. It becomes hard to understand the motivation for his impulsive decision to remain in America.

·       By the time the Russians arrive in New York, it becomes a bit implausible that they’re speaking such fluent English and also talking in English to each other (instead of Russian) when they don’t have to. Small point, but also unrealistic.

·       Vlad appears to become Americanized a bit too quickly to be believed; consider how well he can dance at the discotheque, how fast he learns the lingo, etc.

OTHER FILMS STARRING ROBIN WILLIAMS

·       1980 Popeye

·       1982 The World According to Garp

·       1987 Good Morning Vietnam

·       1989 Dead Poets Society

·       1990 Awakenings

·       1991 The Fisher King

·       1993 Mrs. Doubtfire

·       1997 Good Will Hunting

·       2002 One Hour Photo

·       2002 Insomnia

OTHER FILMS BY DIRECTOR PAUL MAZURSKY, WHO ALSO PASSED AWAY IN 2014

·        1969 Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice

·       1974 Harry and Tonto

·       1978 An Unmarried Woman

·       1986 Down and Out in Beverly Hills

·       1989 Enemies: A Love Story