ccthemovieman-1
Robin Williams became famous, I think, for his stand-up comedy, like his idol Jonathan Winters, but do you realize how many movies this guy has made over the years? He's really become quite a film star and is especially good playing against-type as a criminal or simply as a wacko (see "One Hour Photo?")Anway, this was an early Robin Williams film in which he plays a Russian musician defecting to the United States. He ("Vladamir Ivanoff") first hides out in a big store in New York City before being taken in as an immigrant by a black guy (can you say PC?) Williams does an outstanding job speaking Russian, by the way, as opposed to most English-speaking actors.There really isn't much of a plot here, just slices of life, if you will, some of it with the usual Liberal promiscuous (i.e. "I'm a liberated woman and if I stay the night, don't misinterpret that I want to get involved with you," the Italian tells the Russian. I can think of a few more accurate descriptions that the word "liberated.")All in all, despite the premise and talents of Williams, this was only so-so. It kind of runs out of steam halfway through and it's hard to maintain interest in the final 40 percent of it. Actually, I like Williams better when he plays more serious roles like this although I'm not sure if he himself was ready to play it straight this early in his career. He's just too tempted in this film to produce comedy. He's a talented and very strange guy; this film reflects that.
moonspinner55
Robin Williams is excellent as a Russian circus performer in New York City with his troupe for the first time, deciding to defect and become a U.S. citizen. After an appropriately dark, though somewhat heavy-handed opening, this comedy-drama from director Paul Mazursky suddenly finds its niche and seldom wavers. It may appear from the early parts of the picture that Williams is giving yet another of his overly-colorful, cartoonish performances, but he too gets into the groove of this project and fleshes out this charming, confounding, complicated man. Maria Conchita Alonso is wonderful as the working girl who falls for Williams (they have terrific chemistry, and Alonso has never been better). A fuzzy, friendly, thoughtful film, a bit too long but occasionally sublime. *** from ****
blanche-2
Robin Williams is a Russian musician who defects in Bloomingdale's in "Moscow on the Hudson," a film directed and co-written by Paul Mazursky. This is a warm, funny yet melancholy film about the experiences of immigrants trying to adjust to American life, focusing mainly on Robin Williams as Vladimir. Williams is excellent in depicting the wonder, the loneliness, the sadness, and the paranoia he experiences in his new country. He meets many other immigrants who have been in the U.S. for a longer time, including Maria Conchita Alonso, who plays an Italian salesgirl with ambitions of becoming a newscaster, and his immigration attorney, Alejandro Rey, in a marvelous performance. Once the honeymoon is over, Vladimir has to come to terms with never seeing his family again, the frustration of not yet being able to find work as a musician, the mean streets - and Russia starts to look good to him.This is a wonderful movie that depicts what newcomers to our country go through as they adjust to life here and gives one a new respect for our ancestors and for those immigrants we meet today.
blairwitch39
I saw this movie when it first came out, and I never want to see it again. >From my recollection, Williams' Russian character never adapts to his new home in NYC. Brief comic moments cannot outweigh this movie's constant oppressive atmosphere of a man who made a really bad life choice. Ever notice when a great comedian tries to play a serious role, it's usually maudlin and depressing? Somehow this movie reminds me of a Three Stooges short which is also very depressing. It's called "Cash And Carry". The stooges, seeking shelter, find a shack in the middle of a junkyard, where they find empty tin cans, which they chuck out onto a huge pile of more empty cans. The shack's original occupant arrives - a young boy on crutches. And now the boy has no money, because his savings were hidden in an empty tin can. What a laugh riot (sarcasm).
AD
