Review of Gorky Park (1983) by Craig T — 25 Feb 2011

Michael Apted is a skilled director that has brought us several works of art and some thrilling social pictures (The Coal Miner's Daughter, Gorillas in the Mist, Blink). With Gorky Park, Apted attempts to combine the two elements of social structure and craftsmanship into one piece and it ends up falling short in more than just these areas. From the very beginning our senses are injured from both the musical score and most importantly, the accents from the actors (or lack thereof). Even though Hurt is speaking English, which, for an American film is not unheard of, but there is no accent or even a hint of one. Even Harrison Ford attempted to pull off an accent in K-19. Hurt is also a feeble detective and is really kind of a wimp. Sometimes being weak is ok for a protagonist but not here, not to me. I needed some backbone and stature from Hurt, not the Accidental Tourist but more like the magnitude he mustered up in A History of Violence.

In fact, I can't defend any performance in this film. From Hurt to Dennehey to the worst: Pacula (who for some reason nominated for a Golden Globe). All these individuals appear sloppy and empty. How Hurt and Pacula "fell in love" is laughable yet we are expected to take their instant chemistry seriously. Basically every scene Dennehey is in he grumbles out nonsense and usually storms out of sight quickly. Even Marvin defies logic as he fires a bolt action deer rifle (from the hip) one handed fifty yards across a field to successfully take out a few bad guys. I don't have to explain that one, it is just weak and unacceptable. This is not a matinee action flick, it is supposed to be taken seriously (or perhaps I'm mistaken). Lately, I have tried to see more of Hurt's films and performances, either again or for the first time. Some I really like (Body Heat, The Big Chill) and some I will have to leave behind.

The initial crime scene does stand out and it really set us up for a mystery thrill ride. It even opens up the lines to let in a star studded cast onboard. The trouble is that the director never takes the brake off and everyone sits still making small talk hoping for some motion. It is a potential roller coaster that never leaves the station. The three victims in the beginning are murdered and their faces are removed. Sounds brutal and demands justice, enough to get me worked up trying to figure it all out. But soon after we get introduced to the details of the crime and more of the cast, most of the story then drags on to the mundane and back and forth sequences that don't amount to much. The director captures imagination and then has the puppets dance around for what seems like an eternity all to find out what the murders and cover up was all about. I'll leave the rodent details for anyone who wants to open that door. I was going to consider the potential this film had in assessing the grade but since I eventually started laughing towards the end, I felt it was not even good enough to take pity points into consideration for. (F).