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Amazon.co.uk Review
Intelligent casting, strong performances and the persuasive chemistry between Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer prove the virtues in director Fred Schepisi's well-intended but problematic screen realization of this John Le Carré espionage thriller. At its best, The Russia House depicts the bittersweet nuances of the pivotal affair between a weary, alcoholic London publisher (Connery) and the mysterious Russian beauty (Pfeiffer) who sends him a fateful manuscript exposing the weaknesses beneath Soviet defence technology. Connery's Barley is a gritty, all-too-human figure who's palpably revived by his awakening feelings for Pfeiffer's wan, vulnerable Katya, whose own reciprocal emotions are equally convincing. Together, they weave a poignant romantic duet.
The problems, meanwhile, emanate from the story line that brings these opposites together. Le Carré's novels are absorbing but typically internal odysseys that seldom offer the level of straightforward action or simple arcs of plot that the big screen thrives on. For The Russia House, written as glasnost eclipsed the cold war's overt rivalries, Le Carré means to measure how old adversaries must calibrate their battle to a more subtle, subdued match of wits. Barley himself becomes enmeshed in the mystery of the manuscript because British intelligence chooses to use him as cat's paw rather than become directly involved. Such subtlety may be a more realistic take on the spy games of the recent past but it makes for an often tedious, talky alternative to taut heroics that Connery codified in his most celebrated early espionage role.
If the suspense thus suffers, we're still left with an affecting love story, as well as some convincing sniping between British and US intelligence operatives, beautifully cast with James Fox, Roy Scheider and John Mahoney. Veteran playwright Tom Stoppard brings considerable style to the dialogue, without solving the problem of giving us more than those verbal exchanges to sustain dramatic interest. --Sam Sutherland
Product Description
MGM/UA, Region, 2 1990 122 mins
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
43 of 45 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
When the rusty Iron Curtain disintegrated during Gorbachev's glasnost, Hollywood filmmakers finally got access to the image-rich expanse of Mother Russia for location shoots. Whereas before, when scenes of "Moscow" or "Leningrad" were actually filmed in, say, Helsinki, now American theatergoers can gaze upon the real thing. On viewing THE RUSSIA HOUSE for the first time, I was thrilled to see the onion domes and other architectural glories of Moscow and Suzdal, which I had seen in person several years before.
Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer are Barley and Katya in the screen adaptation of John le Carré's novel of the same title. Barney is the world-weary and alcoholic London publisher to whom a book manuscript is smuggled by the Russian Katya, a woman Barley claims most emphatically not to know. Since the document is actually a survey of the status of Soviet defense weaponry, the British Secret Service, which intercepted the manuscript, views Barley's disclaimer as tepid at best. After intense questioning, and a call upon his loyalty to Queen and Empire, Barley is persuaded to return to Moscow to meet Katya, and determine her source of information. The latter turns out to be Dante, a well-respected physicist embedded in the Soviet defense establishment, who is known to British intelligence and is also Katya's boyfriend. Finally realizing the identity and potential value of the contact, MI6 approaches the CIA with a proposal for a continuing joint operation using Barley as the field agent. The moneyed Americans, of course, insist on playing the dominant mission controller, relegating the Brits to the role of interested observer.
A criticism of this film was that it's too boring. Not so, if one accepts and understands that le Carré's plots are not action oriented by design. Rather, they revolve around character evolution and relatively subtle confrontations that are more intellectual and psychological than physical. Le Carré's books are, admittedly, an acquired taste, and not for the shallow-minded. The filmed version of THE RUSSIA HOUSE is true to its literary roots. There are here no feats of 007-like derring-do confounding the evildoers on missions impossible. The storyline unfolds at a comparatively sedate, realistic pace.
The casting was perfect. Veterans Connery and Pfeiffer are magnificent together. The latter's portrayal of a Slavic damsel-in-distress is especially convincing. James Fox as the urbane, gentlemanly MI6 controller serves as the perfect foil to the abrasive, take-no-prisoners (stereotypically Yank) attitude of his CIA counterpart, played by Roy Scheider. Klaus Brandauer as Dante is appropriately enigmatic. The location cinematography is visually sumptuous.
After awhile, one gets weary of the steady diet of action spy thrillers that rampage across the silver screen. As a change of gait, THE RUSSIA HOUSE is supremely satisfying, especially the bittersweet ending. I loved it.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The Russia House is one of Connery's last really good performances before he realized that they'd still pay him the big bucks even if he was just sleepwalking through a part and refusing to do more than one take. It's also one of the best screen adaptations of a John Le Carre novel, a surprisingly ambitious screenplay by Tom Stoppard that folds chronology, character and plot points in on themselves like origami in the opening and closing scenes making for engaging and occasionally playful viewing. The excellent supporting cast, including an exceptionally good Michelle Pfeiffer, don't hurt either. Only the last minute studio-imposed happy ending grates, but not enough to do any real damage. Jerry Goldsmith provides a fine score, the love theme proving third time lucky after it was dropped from both Wall Street and Alien Nation.
MGM/UA's disc offers a good widescreen 2.35:1 transfer, but the only extra is the film's full trailer.
MGM/UA's disc offers a good widescreen 2.35:1 transfer, but the only extra is the film's full trailer.
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Russia house is an extremely interesting film that analyses the relationship among the common people of the USA and USSR. It shows in a very vivid way that there so few things that make us different from each other.
Sean Connery and Michel Pfeiffer act in a magnificent way; in this film they really show their great performing abilities in contrast to the "light" typical american films like James Bond and Scarface.
Moreover, the plot is very interesting, the scenery and photography amazing, and the whole atmosphere is framed by an exceptional soundtrack (also a must). Don't miss this film!
Sean Connery and Michel Pfeiffer act in a magnificent way; in this film they really show their great performing abilities in contrast to the "light" typical american films like James Bond and Scarface.
Moreover, the plot is very interesting, the scenery and photography amazing, and the whole atmosphere is framed by an exceptional soundtrack (also a must). Don't miss this film!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Are You A Spy?
The Russia House is a good film for most of its running time. It has an excellent cast and is very well filmed but I feel its let down by a weak ending, especially the over... Read more
Published 3 months ago by j.r
Purchased based on reviews
I did enjoy it, but had to re-wind bits just to catch what was being said. I would watch it again and may even read the book. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Jane Elder
Spy DVD's
An excellent movie, well worth the money spent. The acting was good and so was the story line right to the end.
Published 7 months ago by Robin Croll
Good entertainment but not a classic
A middle aged, jazz playing, Barley Blair who is drawn into espionage when he is asked to go to Russia to meet Katya, the intermediary of a Russian scientist who wants to publish... Read more
Published 7 months ago by G. Gavigan
the russia house
I haven't seen this for years. It doesn't seem to be on TV. Why? Perhaps it is. Anyway this DVD is superb. Read more
Published 15 months ago by A. W. Wilson
very good
It is hard to go wrong with a Le Carre story, Sean Connery and Michelle P. I found this to be engaging, provocative, interesting and a very fun movie to watch.
Published 18 months ago by film nut
It's Still the Cold War Here, Not Quite Yet Glasnost
The movie "Russia House," starring Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer, is based on the spy novel of the same name, by that master spy-meister, the British John LeCarre. Read more
Published on 17 April 2010 by Stephanie DePue
A Cold War thriller with a great cast and soundtrack
The Russia House is an excellent cinematic adaptation of a John le Carré novel and captures the spy game just as the Cold War of 1946-1991 was nearing its end during the... Read more
Published on 6 April 2010 by LXIX
Saved by Connery
The book was a typically convoluted John Le Carré plot, with the usual oblique and opaque dialogue. Read more
Published on 27 Feb 2010 by Reader / writer
A Cold-War Swansong
Overshaddowed by the release of the more sensational 'Hunt for Red October', this must surely be Sean Connery's finest performance. Read more
Published on 29 Dec 2009 by L. G. F. Bedini
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