The potential to delve into the mysterious Red Army hockey system had me excited to see this movie. Some of the footage, some of the interviews were awesome. It's what was blatantly overlooked or ignored in the documentary that had me feeling angry when I left the theatre. I felt that the the interviewer, Gabe Polsky, had the interview style equal to that of a "punk kid", with a blatant lack of interview skills or savvy to deal with extremely shy and introverted products of the Soviet system. His questioning was awkward, sometimes disrespectful, and even in the matter of someone like Kasatonov, oddly "compliant". (Why DIDN'T he stick up for Fetisov?!). There were no interviews with Makarov, Tikhonov, Mogilny. And there were so many others who could have been spoken to. I suspect they sized up Gabe and thought he was a schmuck and didn't want to talk to him. Fetisov left a lot unanswered...or did Gabe not know how to speak to him? There's got to be more to the story of the his transitions to the NHL, the Cups that he won with Detroit. Did he eventually win the acceptance of his western teammates? Perhaps we could HEAR from any of them? How about an interview with Steve Yzerman? He would have much to tell, I would think, about the coming of the Russians to the Wings. Then there had to be a story as to why he went back to Russia after Perestroika. And why was the tragic story of Konstantinov not addressed? What about the perspective of other NHLers? The Icing on the Cake was the depiction of today's Russian stars perceived lack of patriotism for their country....depicted by OVECHKIN shooting at nesting dolls of SOUP? Are you freaking kidding me???? Ovechkin was the FIRST Russian to say he was playing in SOCHI "no matter what" before the NHL had even given the go ahead for the pros to go over.An Oscar nominee??? You've got to be kidding me. It came off as student film at best.

. . . is one of the big take-aways from the documentary RED ARMY. Master Mogilny is portrayed here as the first Russian hockey star to defect to the NHL. Since these players were the elite of the Russian military, this would be on par with the Third Reich losing one of its field marshals to the Israeli war machine. With Mogilny gone, there was no hope that the USSR could last much longer. RED ARMY also makes it clear that ALL Olympic medals awarded to representatives of the USSR during the Soviet Era MUST be revoked forthwith, and presented to the runners-up or next placers. This is because the U.N. Charter prohibits human slavery, and RED ARMY proves that the Russian athletes were as much slaves during this time period as Kunta Kinte ever was. (Don't forget that this shameful Olympic organization revokes American medals at the drop of a hat all the time!) Finally, the "feel good" aspect of the "Slava" Fetisov story at the center of RED ARMY is totally crushed when Mr. Fetisov abandons Detroit to become a front for the current Russian strongman, "Mad Dog" Putin, recently voted the guy most likely to destroy Civilization as We Know It in a poll of experts. Putin already has raped Georgia and the Ukraine, and seems to wish to become known as "Hitler on Steroids." That a man such as Fetisov (who enjoyed metro Detroit for so long) can willingly become Putin's stooge shows that there may not be any hope for the Russian People.

Greetings again from the darkness. You need not be a hockey fan to be familiar with the "Miracle on Ice" upset of the seasoned Russians by the upstart Americans at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid. Often referred to as a battle of cultures – "our way vs their way, capitalism vs communism" – most articles, TV shows, and movies have been presented from the American perspective. It's only now, in this informative and entertaining documentary from filmmaker Gabe Polsky, that we gain some insight into the Russian players and their way of life.Mr. Polsky is the son of Russian immigrants, and grew up playing hockey in Chicago and later for Yale. His research into Russian hockey evolved into a documentary that blends sports, geopolitics, history, culture, and personal stories. He mixes in some fantastic archival film footage from the 1970's and 80's, but the heart of everything here flows from the interviews with Russian hockey legend Vyacheslav Fetisov, who is a vital and unique link to past and present.Fetisov is sometimes playful and sometimes snide in his remarks, but he basically narrates the history of Russian hockey – starting with Stalin's founding of the organization, through the two key coaches: father figure Tarasov and the militant Tikhanov who followed. Stalin was convinced that Russian domination of global sports would clearly establish communism and the Russian culture as far superior to capitalism and the carefree ways of the west. This led to the Red Army hockey camps being run by the military. The players were isolated for eleven months each year, training and playing in a manner that generated ultimate teamwork, but also quite unhappy young men.We see the influence of Russian chess (Karpov) and the Bolshoi ballet for training methods, and we also see the ever-present KGB ensuring no "escapes", or what we might know better as defections. We learn about the Russian Five (including Fetisov) who were so dominant that the team went two years without losing. Gold medals in Sarajevo (1984) and Calgary (1988) occurred just prior to the 1991 dissolution of the U.S.S.R. and the economic crisis of the region.This is what opened the door for Russian hockey players to enter the NHL, though the transition was smoother for some than others. After a few years of adjusting, it was coach Scotty Bowman's 1997 Detroit Red Wings that won the Stanley Cup with a contingency of Russian players (including Fetisov) who were given free reign to play their own game while on the ice. Their movements and intricate teamwork clashed mightily with the individualistic style of westerners … and that group of Russian players can be credited with helping the game to evolve to its current style.Much of the insight comes from the faces of the men who are interviewed. Their stoicism and lack of emotion is a microcosm of the society in which they were raised. Their country was obliterated by war, and then led by a megalomaniac who wanted to rule the world. Human emotion and the rights of individuals mattered little, and we see that despite the years of hardship, these players remain (mostly) true and loyal to their country. This is a fascinating look at human nature and how the culture of one's youth can directly impact the beliefs as an adult, so many years later.

Red Army illustrates the way of life hockey creates for its players, fans, and country on and off the ice. Polsky intimately describes the pride, devotion, and hardships these players experienced once shoved onto the patriotic pedestal meant to represent strength, determination and nationalism Russia insisted its people adopt. To be a part of the Red Army hockey team was a national honor, it proved your undying love and support for your country, it meant absolute popularity and respect from your fans (which was the entire Russian population), because to Russia, it wasn't just a game, it was a way of life, it was a fight that could move Russia to the top once again. The film primarily follows Slava Fetisov, highlighting his triumphs and relationship with the Red Army team and Russian government, his impossibly tough transition in the NHL, and the affect his hockey talents and patriotism had on his personal life. It's absolutely mesmerizing to watch the dance of the game, the political movements and the life decisions these players and their families are forced to make. It's a life full of tests and courage - Polsky shares an absolutely phenomenally detailed truth.