Moviecut—Russian Roulette

Russian Roulette

If being a spy was really this boring, they'd all find other work. Horrible movie. Trite, over-cooked, predictable plot. Ridiculous screenplay. It must have been written by a 10-year old. Terrible acting. Really awful garbage. Segal must have really need a paycheck in 1975.

George Segal is slightly out of his element in the action-spy genre, but he handles himself well enough; the major problem with "Russian Roulette" is a disjointed script, as a result of which very little happens in the film for about an hour! Once the main idea of the plot - and it's a pretty good one - is revealed, the film does improve somewhat, and there are three or four admittedly great stunts (the only memorable moments of "Russian Roulette"). Segal's co-star, Christina Raines, is pretty, she reminded me of Ali MacGraw, I wonder why she is so forgotten today. And the biggest mystery: why hire an actress of Louise Fletcher's caliber (who won the Oscar the same year for "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest") only to give her such a completely throwaway bit part? ** out of 4.

George Segal plays an officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, currently on suspension, who accepts "piece of cake" assignment keeping a nonconformist immigrant from Latvia under his surveillance during the Soviet Premier's visit to Vancouver...that is, until his subject is kidnapped. Assassination thriller adapted from Tom Ardies' novel "Kosygin Is Coming" was just a quick-stop for Segal during a busy decade for him as a leading man. Plainly-filmed, mostly forgettable, but with little eccentric bits of humor. Good cast includes Cristina Raines, Denholm Elliott, Richard Romanus and Louise Fletcher, plus Segal is always fun to watch. The first of only two films directed by Lou Lombardo, revered movie editor on many '70s and '80s classics including most of Robert Altman's releases of the era. ** from ****

The failure of this stylish thriller, financed by Lew Grade's ITC, effectively ended the directorial career of former Altman editor Lou Lombardo. It's true that "Russian Roulette" takes a while to get going and has an unnecessarily complex plot. However, Lombardo has a nice eye for detail, uses locations well (it is set in wintry Vancouver) and gets the best out of an eclectic cast. "Russian Roulette" may start slowly but it builds to a cracking climax that is a tour de force of slick editing and exciting music (from the underrated Michael J Lewis). George Segal is well-cast and looks genuinely scared in the vertiginous rooftop shootout. Worth seeing.