1944: Ivan Groznyy (Ivan the Terrible), Part I

Featuring great frames but suffering from overly expressive acting, Eisenstein's picture about the first Russian Czar looks like what it is: a talkie by a silent film director. There are also major issues with the screenplay: the lack of any narrative arc to speak of and, relatedly, a lack of characterization. There is a common view about film and narratives more generally that you need a likable character you'd like to identify with, but great films like A Clockwork Orange or Goodfellas do fine without one. What you really need is an interesting character you get to know. But we never get to know Ivan. Why does he choose to alienate powerful cliques left and right once he's made Czar? We never learn. Why does he start another war? It's a mystery.

All in all, although Eisenstein overdoes the shadowplay at times, worth a look for the visuals. (6)