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The Russia House (1990)

Rate: 3
Viewed: 7/17

RussiaHouse
7/17: The Russia House is one of those "I Don't Know What the Fuck Is Going On" movies.

I think it's about retired but unkempt-looking James Bond who returns to the fold as a favor for England as he goes deep into the heart of Russia to procure whatever the secret information is before going back to what he was doing. Perhaps a better explanation would be Sean Connery signed on for the project because he wanted to get his hands all over Michelle Pfeiffer's body. As a matter of fact, he had the final say on casting choices.

Speaking of Michelle Pfeiffer, why couldn't the filmmakers cast a true Russian who's a complete unknown to the American audience? That's how it worked out with Tatiana Samoilova for Letyat zhuravli which is otherwise known as The Cranes Are Flying.

The film takes place in Russia, and hardly anyone speaks Russian? Horseshit. Similarly, I've been confused many times as to whether or not Sean Connery's character is a Russian. It must have been the influence of The Hunt for Red October. In fact, Sean Connery looks more Russian than British. What a perfect line to describe him: "I look like a large, unmade bed with a shopping bag attached."

If the guy with white hair and huge eyeglasses looks interesting, then it should be because that's Ken Russell who made his career out of directing absolutely bizarre films such as Altered States, Gothic, and The Lair of the White Worm.

All in all, you should skip The Russia House in favor of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.