Review of Gorky Park (1983) by Jonathan B — 31 Jan 2015

A brilliant thriller from the 1980s starring William Hurt. What marks this film out as being a little different from the usual is that it is set in Moscow and Hurt plays a Russian police inspector. Lee Marvin takes on the role of a cool American businessman and there are a plethora of other fine and sadly now deceased actors in supporting roles.

The script is by the masterful Dennis Potter and is clever, dark and witty in places. The plot involves the grisly discovery of three badly mutilated bodies in Moscow's Gorky Park and Hurt sets out to investigate.

What he uncovers is a gripping tale of the fur trade and corruption within the Soviet establishment. The fact that the story takes place in the pre-Glasnost era makes the whole movie interesting from an historical point and Moscow is shown as a down-at-heel, slightly grubby place.

All this makes for an intriguing and interesting film which has an appeal beyond the normal thriller. I'm an admirer of Hurt and in the role of Inspector Renco, he seems perfectly cast and very believable.

I'm also impressed with Joanna Pacula as the mysterious Irina who is a pivotal character in the plot. This classic film of the 1980s is a great example of film making from that decade and is still gripping and suspenseful without being sensationalist.

Highly recommended.