Review of Russian Ark (2002) by Rocky L — 16 Sep 2007

Impressive but rarely engaging or entertaining, this single-shot film will give you a lot to talk about after you've finished watching. Unfortunately, though, the film gives us a single continuous take, but no continuity in story or character; it's a noble experiment where some pieces work, but others fall away forgotten.

Some critics call it dreamlike and hypnotizing, and that's true. But any film can create a "style," a "tone." The really good films complement style with substance, and this film ignores the latter.