Great scam Working with real historical events, the most difficult thing is not to slide into dull documentary, and getting lost in facts and events, pull out some plot details of the plot. Moreover, the final result rarely depends on how long events have occurred, except that the further from modernity, the more difficult it is to find the true facts in the right amount. The painting by Eldar Salavatov “PiraMMida” tells about the activities of MMM, successfully decorating this story in his own vision, story refinement, both actions and heroes, and presenting far from a literal interpretation of events, but a truly high-quality and interesting film.
Adjustments and changes made to Mavrodi’s story, historical data, helped to create a very impressive and catching story, to give strength and scale to events, complementing the author’s view and cinematic presentation. And although in the center of the story is the hero of the brilliant Alexei Serbryakov - Mamontov (the name Mavrodi decided to change), and it is about his activities, his relationships, plans and career take-off will tell "PiraMMMida", hardly the picture fully fits the genre of biopeak. The plot does not cling to the past, childhood and youth, does not go into the roots of the personality and does not follow subsequent events, making only a slice of the most important period. Well, according to the genre essence, this, in the opinion of many, a magnificent scam turns into a criminal thriller, where even without sidelines with murders and kidnappings, there is no small tension and powerful emotional outbursts in dialogues.
Picking up a bright casting Salavatov surprisingly manages to force everyone to play. The fact that Serebriakov in this role is simply magnificent and worthy of the highest awards can take a long time, and with his huge talent it is not surprising. It is surprising that Fedorov’s simple tricks fit organically here, Vilkova is extremely successful, and Fedor Bondarchuk shows a real powerful acting for the first time! Bondarchuk with such opportunities need to act in a movie, not to shoot it. And take exceptionally serious roles without jumping from one failed comedy to another. Maybe when he wants, and this movie shows it.
In addition, it is impossible not to note the successful entry of actors into their roles. Many secondary characters are already plotted significantly influencing the events, and the characters of the central characters of the film. And the choice of actors to embody such images is absolutely delightful! Expressive, perfectly fit in the role and with all their soul playing - with such an acting ensemble simply could not work out otherwise. A very important role in the fact that the film turned out great, played the cast.
You can even single out characters such as Knopka - assistant hero Fedorov, lawyer and secretary Mamontov, foreign partner businessman-Bondarchuk and others. Igor Yatsko wonderfully presents the criminal authority Rezo, perfectly copes with his party Alexei Gorbunov, will appear in the frame and Vladimir Permyakov – Lena Golubkov from the famous advertising of shares, Mamontov’s daughter will be played by Diana’s younger sister “drink and walk away” Shpak – Suzanne, and this is perhaps only with the role of his wife performed by Anna Mikhalkova – after all, I would like to see the family detail of the biography saved, in 1993 (i.e. a year before the events) Mamontov married the owner of the owner of the film Shpak – Suzanne, and I would like to see the girl in the lack of a detailed beauty contest together.
Swirling events more and more interesting with each new round of the plot, the technical design of the picture also remains on top. Perhaps because of this, the film looks so impressive and strong. The sound design was very successful, where one cannot but note the fleeting appearance in the radio air of Agatha Christie, a chic variation of Bogdan Titomir on the "Capital" of the Lapis Trubetskaya group, and a bonus pile of posters of metal foreign bands in the spirit of "Cradle of Filth" on the wall in one of the scenes. Stylish editing and very successful camera work fill the visual part with special expressiveness, giving the company some charm and atmosphere, dragging into action and immersing inside what is happening on the screen. The viewer will decide for himself his attitude to Mamontov-Mavrodi, will choose heroes for whom it is worth worrying, and those who clearly cause disgust, but hardly anyone will be able to remain emotionless in this regard.
The image of Mamontov is not really idealized, as it may seem when viewed. The idealist hero, with all the palette of human qualities, remains a prisoner of his own idea, accumulating human greed in his own spiritual energy. Well, when the spiritual world is filled with greed and capitalism, the phrases about the guarantor of land ownership and indifference to the fate of the daughter are no longer surprising. And a chic moment in understanding the true essence of the hero is the contrast of two dialogues with a difference of 10 minutes - at the waterfall with Bondarchuk and a presentation at a government meeting. Third in the pedestal of the best Russian dialogues in the cinema is, of course, and emotional quarrel with Fedorov, about the pyramid and the world set by cancer. And wearing ten pairs of identical inconspicuous shoes, irritating regular white kefir mustaches, and greedily wanting to own everything and everyone already even against the background of the coming cloud of change, transferring from the seemingly financial rise to the dirty and gloomy remnants of the nineties of the style of Balabanov’s films.
The picture does not in any way seek to justify anyone, or even to expose the guilty. Generally picking on the presence or lack of reliability in this case would be wrong. Based on real data, the artistic value of Salavatov’s work is much higher than the documentary history of the rise and collapse of MMM. Yes, we could supplement the details, add more erotic, as well as not to cut the scenes shown in the trailer about “X-Day” and “controlling stake”, but this all does not significantly affect the quality, and the picture came out wonderful! This movie catches with its characters and interaction of heroes, intrigues with plot twists and permeates the power of dialogue. Even in comparison with the really good Russian paintings of the last decade, Pyrammida towers above them literally with a masterpiece of skill. Such a movie wants to watch and review, and its bright and significant advantages more than eclipse the petty shortcomings and various subjective nagging. A great crime thriller based on real events. Bravo!
10 IZ 10
Original