There were times when Russians were making really good movies (especially comedies). Nowadays it seems that they are unsuccessfully trying to imitative American movies (i've watched some of their latest comedies and it seems like they're loosing their sense of humor too). This movie is an exception. Many people say that this is a rip off of "Snatch." but but to me this one is much better than "Snatch.". It is more funny and at the same time more violent. It have some similarities with "Snatch." but i noticed that there is a lot of similar crime movies, it doesn't mean that this one is a rip off of "Snatch.". The acting and directing were great, it proofs that there still are some talented people in Russia only they rarely get a chance to self-actualize. I noticed some plot holes but thats OK, the movie still was great.

The movie shows how modern authority figures gained their power and capital. A lot of them came from not so clean jobs and the movies shows details of that.Two guys - Simon (Duzhev) and Sergey (Aleksey Panin) - are working for a local mobster (Mikhalkov) as negotiators (extortion specialists actually) and killers. They are not brain surgeons and are quick to pull out a gun, which always puts them in different awkward situations. Considering there are competitors such as crooked cop, local dumb criminals and other low-life element, Simon and Sergey are in for a fun ride... Expect lot of gunshots and a sea of blood.The movie has gathered a great number of Russian cinema stars even in episodic roles (Andrey Panin is an architect, Andrey Krasko is an unlucky neighbor, Dmitriy Pevtzov is a drug-dealing lawyer, etc.), which makes the movie so much fun to watch. Under a virtuoso management of the director Aleksey Balaganov all characters are simply dumb and extremely standardized, which makes it look like a joke.Just like Guy Ritchie's movies this one can not really be taken too seriously. On the other hand it's too much dark humor and too much blood to be considered a comedy.Just keep in mind that it is a true biography of some today's Russian politicians. Perhaps, that will leave you thinking.p.s. "The Russian Ethiopian" is absolutely hilarious!

It was a great time of true freedom. The only freedom portrayed in this movie is the freedom to kill. As if mafia style killings are non-existent now... Why do they try to make the 90s look awful? Because as usually in Russia the production is financed by the government which is "bringing back law and order after dark years of Yeltsin era"?Performance is poor. Actors do successfully portray imbecility and nothing else. I guess this was their task but otherwise there is no directing. The plot is weak. Some scenes and characters make no sense. This is the usual feature of a modern Russian movie. Star cast. Every character is played by some sort of star and it does not matter that this particular star does not fit or appears only for several seconds. Do they respect themselves? Do they think a movie would fall apart without their blessed appearances? Disappointing 3/10. Should be less, but I am sentimental about the time.

Well, the movie is very well done technically... Looks exactly like all these "bandits/gangs" Russian movies from perestroika times. Definitely inspired by "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" movie takes another direction and shows us the REAL world of early 90s violent gang wars. Actors are great and atmosphere is superb. I have never enjoyed a Russian mafia movie (Except for Balabanov's "Brother"), but this one got me. The movie takes place in Nizhny Novgorod (Gorky at the time), not Moscow! This is my first complain about the movie. Driving scenes are poorly cut, and I used to live in this city and I notice that in one shot the car is going one direction, but in the next shot it's going the opposite way! You have to pay more attention to things like that (I know that other people who are unfamiliar with this city are not gonna notice that). Another thing is WHY somebody came up with this movie? It shows you the real life as we all know it? If you live in Russia, just get out on a street and look around, very little have changed!