With Stalin HBO outdoes itself and it can be attributed entirely to Robert Duvall -which is not to say that the rest of the cast is not top notch, it is. Historically Stalin is one of the greatest monsters that ever walked the earth. Duvall manages to catch this ghastly aspect of the man but still makes the Soviet tyrant irresistible. No doubt about it those old Soviets who took over Russia after the czar were a ruthless bunch and among that murderous crowd Stalin rose to the top of the heap by out doing every one in the terror stakes. Given what was going on in the world Stalin may have been the right leader for Russia -- rule that mess of nationalities with an iron hand. This is not to excuse his terror, but to recognize that that country was largely ungovernable except by force. Since the fall of communism about 20 years ago, Russians have told pollsters that they have nostalgia for Stalin's good old days. Maybe not for his drop of a hat terror, but because he got things done. Robert Duvall captures this and make the character likable while he goes on his merry murdering way. Especially in his interaction toward the end, the last scene he has with his grown up grand daughter. It is some of the best acting ever put on film and a must see!!
Review of Stalin
