The Trotsky (2009)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Josh M

  
  The Trotsky is a charming but flawed teen comedy set in Montreal, about a wanna be radical without a cause, Leon Bronstein (Jay Barchel), who tries to start a pointless Communist revolution in his high school. Leon believes he is the reincarnation of his namesake, Leon Trotsky, and… More
  The Trotsky is a charming but flawed teen comedy set in Montreal, about a wanna be radical without a cause, Leon Bronstein (Jay Barchel), who tries to start a pointless Communist revolution in his high school. Leon believes he is the reincarnation of his namesake, Leon Trotsky, and that his life will parallel his famous namesake. It gets by on the charisma of its excellent cast. I know the humour of the film is supposed to draw attention to the fact that he's rebelling against very little except post modernist youth apathy but that is not an inherently dramatic concept. The film also relies on references to Marxism and Bolshevist history that will be completely lost on the teen comedy Apatow audience that talented writer director Jacob Tierney is going for. The Trotsky is amusing and charming but rarely funny. A smilar film, Rushmore gets more laughs and is much less predictable. When the crazy Leon finally gets arrested and gets his fellow students to join his revolution, it happens for no reason at all. However, almost everyone shines, from the students to the adult antogonists. Barchel is a terrific, likeable and sincere lead and carries the film. Saul Rubinek plays Leon's disgruntled Jewish businessman Dad, Colm Feore is the slightly hard ass school principal, Michael Murphy is a Vietnam draft dodger radical who regains his ideals as Leon's attorney, and Genevieve Bujold makes a lovely return to film as the dictatorial school board chairwoman. And though their romance is not believable, the lovely Emily Hampshire plays Leon's older girlfriend who has the same name and age difference as Trotsky's wife. Thought set in my native Montreal, the film is shot on generic sets which do not capture the atmosphere of the city as well as recent films like Barney's Version or Monsieur Lazhar. However, I loved the very fresh rock soundtrack by Quebecois band Maljube and the title sequences which are hip versions of communist poster art of the Bolshevik period. Definely a charming time waster and worth a rental. But for all you ex-radical parents, it will not turn your kids into more socially engaged socialists, so don't get your hopes up.

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  Cast: Jay Baruchel, Saul Rubinek, Geneviève Bujold, Emily Hampshire, Colm Feore, Jessica Paré, Justin Bradley, Liane Balaban, David Julian Hirsh, Ricky Mabe, Michael Murphy, Anne-Marie Cadieux, Domini Blythe, Kaniehtiio Horn, Jesse Rath Director: Jacob Tierney Summary:… More
  Cast: Jay Baruchel, Saul Rubinek, Geneviève Bujold, Emily Hampshire, Colm Feore, Jessica Paré, Justin Bradley, Liane Balaban, David Julian Hirsh, Ricky Mabe, Michael Murphy, Anne-Marie Cadieux, Domini Blythe, Kaniehtiio Horn, Jesse Rath Director: Jacob Tierney Summary: Seventeen-year-old Leon Bronstein (Jay Baruchel) thinks he is the reincarnation of Russian October Revolution leader Leon Trotsky, thus staging a strike at his father's (Saul Rubinek) factory and then a student walkout at his new school. My Thoughts: "You cannot describe this film without using the word quirky. Had some odd character's and interesting story. Jay Baruchel, gives a great performance as Leon Bronstein. He is over the top and brilliant. I did feel like he seemed a bit old for the character who was suppose to be 17. He seemed much older for that age, but so did the character he was playing, so maybe it was why they chose an older looking actor? But even though the character seemed very smart, there were also moments you saw that he still had some growing up to do. Funny film, but not sure if it will be to every-one's liking."

• Cynthia S

  
  Wacky, yes. Funny, yes. Serious, yes. Quirky love, yes. My kind of film, yes. Jay Baruchel does his thing so well. Even Genevieve Bujold knows something is happening, and shows up for the film. Charming, fun, and wonderfully original.

• Lewis C

  
  "It's over. I'm not it. I'm not the man for the job." The Trotsky came out of absolutely nowhere. I don't even know how it appeared on my radar, but I'm glad that it did. It's quite the little gem. It's the story of a teenager (named… More
  "It's over. I'm not it. I'm not the man for the job." The Trotsky came out of absolutely nowhere. I don't even know how it appeared on my radar, but I'm glad that it did. It's quite the little gem. It's the story of a teenager (named Leon) from Montreal who believes he is the reincarnation of the Marxist leader Leon Trotsky, and believes that his life will follow that of his predecessor exactly. Right down to exile, relationships, and even cause of death. He finds his "great cause" in the plight of the students at the public high school that his father sends him too, and puts all his energy into forming a union for them. I found myself getting swept up into Leon's struggle against youth apathy very quickly, because he's such a likeable character. Jay Baruchel plays him with his typical neurotic performance, but it works. You don't know how seriously to take him at first, but Leon believes so deeply in who he claims to be and what he's doing, that it's easy to let your disbelief go and just roll with it all. All the characters are pretty great, actually, and most of my enjoyment of the movie came from their interactions with each other. So yeah, I'm recommending The Trotsky wholeheartedly. Don't immediately write it off if you have no idea who Leon Trotsky is. It's just a very likeable comedy, and it puts a fresh spin on the "high school movie". I enjoyed it.

• KJ P

  
  A story about a kid who believes he is the reincarnation of Leon Trotsky, and pursues his beliefs by marking down all of the main events that happened in his life, and matches them with his. By the time he realizes everything is going in order, he goes off on an entirely different… More
  A story about a kid who believes he is the reincarnation of Leon Trotsky, and pursues his beliefs by marking down all of the main events that happened in his life, and matches them with his. By the time he realizes everything is going in order, he goes off on an entirely different way, by creating a protest of how the schools have unions, and that the student body should be it's own union. It is a wonderful story of courage and comedy. Jay Baruchel pulls off a comedic, yet serious role, in creating a character that sets a mood anyone would love. The Trotsky is only full on pure greatness. One of the best canadian films I've ever seen.

• Daniel P

  
  Is it possible to not say "quirky" and "Canadian" in the same review, ever? Thanks to flying Air Canada a lot this year, I've been watching Canadian film, and The Trotsky is an excellent and original work that I highly recommend. Like Mean Girls, it's an… More
  Is it possible to not say "quirky" and "Canadian" in the same review, ever? Thanks to flying Air Canada a lot this year, I've been watching Canadian film, and The Trotsky is an excellent and original work that I highly recommend. Like Mean Girls, it's an unconventional "rise to popularity in high school" film, but the twist here is that whole thing turns on the rise (and eventual fall, obviously) being based on the life of Leon Trotsky (reincarnated in the form of The New Rick Moranis, Jay Baruchel). In short, this was a great way to make/watch a movie about Trotsky without having to actually make/watch a movie about Trotsky. I found the romantic plot a little too thin and implausible, but jeez, it's a movie, not real life. Fun and original, Reitman-produced filmmaking. An excellent little movie.

• Bannan i

  
  Simply brilliant, this proves time and time again the amazingness of Canadian cinema. My expectations were definitely exceeded...far and beyond. A wonderful cast that have such great chemistry...which you think comes from the fact they're friends in real life, yes with Tierney… More
  Simply brilliant, this proves time and time again the amazingness of Canadian cinema. My expectations were definitely exceeded...far and beyond. A wonderful cast that have such great chemistry...which you think comes from the fact they're friends in real life, yes with Tierney too. But, could you expect less from Bon Cop, Bad Cop? Wunderbar story that is definitely a must see, and a must own...for this little bugger anyways. Jay Baruchel is a stunning actor, and only since he stopped doing television did he finally get to expand his acting finesse. :] [review to be added/subtracted from sometime in the notsodistant future withstanding...]

• Walter M

  
  Even with his sister Sarah's(Tommie-Amber Pirie) support, Leon's(Jay Baruchel) hunger strike at their father's(Saul Rubinek) factory goes badly awry with Leon getting arrested. So much so, that he disowns his own son but his stepmother(Anne-Marie Cadieux) is more… More
  Even with his sister Sarah's(Tommie-Amber Pirie) support, Leon's(Jay Baruchel) hunger strike at their father's(Saul Rubinek) factory goes badly awry with Leon getting arrested. So much so, that he disowns his own son but his stepmother(Anne-Marie Cadieux) is more forgiving and invites him back for sabbath where he is told that he will now be attending public school from now on. In response, Leon goes to enlist legal aid from Frank McGovern(Michael Murphy) who does agree that he needs professional help, just not of the legal kind since Leon thinks he is the reincarnation of Leon Trotsky. Just for the record, Alexandra(Emily Hampshire) also thinks he is nuts. At least, he makes some friends at his new school... As it gets better as it goes along with a slightly weak ending, "The Trotsky" is a very funny, inspiring, intelligent and political romp with some great touches(Any movie that name checks Ken Loach is okay with me) that strangely enough has some faint echoes of "The Boys from Brazil." Wait, think about it for a second. And even if it is an exaggeration, it would still explain a few things. While Trotsky was not as bad as Stalin, he was not writing about peace, love and understanding but revolution.(Even though I'm an anarchist, I'm not here to relive any century old feuds unless somebody has a lot of water balloons lying around.) Canada might be a strange place to foment a revolution since it already has socialized health care, gay marriage, a Tim Horton's on every corner and, most importantly, nationalized televised hockey every night. But you have to start somewhere. And is there anything more fascist than school uniforms? Just don't forget the cheerleaders.

• Deb S

  
  Jay Baruchel stars as Leon Bronstein, a 17 year old teenager from Montreal who believes he is the reincarnation of the Marxist leader Leon Trotsky, and is determined to live out his life exactly as Trostky lived his. He is so convinced of his lineage that he pursues a woman named… More
  Jay Baruchel stars as Leon Bronstein, a 17 year old teenager from Montreal who believes he is the reincarnation of the Marxist leader Leon Trotsky, and is determined to live out his life exactly as Trostky lived his. He is so convinced of his lineage that he pursues a woman named Alexandra who is ten years older than him because he believes her to be his future wife. Leon finds his "great cause" in the plight of the students at the public high school that his father sends him too, and puts all his energy into forming a Student union for them. The movie is fun to watch throughout because of Jay Baruchel's commitment to the role and his winning impersonation of a doggedly patient revolutionary young man who believes he is sailing on the tide of history.

• Lesley N

  
  A bit like Ferris Buellers Day off, with added politics, this is a Canadian rom-com about a boy who thinks he's Trotsky and has a to-do list that includes marrying an older woman called Alexandra, staging a revolution and getting assassinated with an ice-pick to prove it At… More
  A bit like Ferris Buellers Day off, with added politics, this is a Canadian rom-com about a boy who thinks he's Trotsky and has a to-do list that includes marrying an older woman called Alexandra, staging a revolution and getting assassinated with an ice-pick to prove it At the start of the film, I though Leon was an annoying little oik, but he improves as time goes on, and by the end he becomes someone almost admirable, the kind of person who hope does get his girl, and his revolution. .

• Jason R

  
  One of the quirkiest and well-written comedies I have ever seen! Leon is a seventeen year-old kid who believes that he is the reincarnation of Leon Trotsky, the famed Marxist and revolutionary. Leon has laid out his life plans according to the life of Trotsky, which include. Marrying… More
  One of the quirkiest and well-written comedies I have ever seen! Leon is a seventeen year-old kid who believes that he is the reincarnation of Leon Trotsky, the famed Marxist and revolutionary. Leon has laid out his life plans according to the life of Trotsky, which include. Marrying an older woman named Alexandra, finding his own Vladimir Ulyanov, and being assassinated (preferably by an icepick). Oddly, events begin falling into place that mirror Trotsky, and garners Leon a lot of media attention, and when he decides to unionize the student body at his school. His odd ways begin to change things, some for the better and some for the worse. Jay Baruchel is phenomenally good as Leon, and really is the reason this movie works. I couldn't have seen an other actor pulling this material off as well as he did. A lot of fun to watch and something this original, is always a welcome change of pace.

• Jessica v

  
  Not usually laugh-out-loud funny but thoroughly entertaining all the same, mostly due to Baruchel and his spot-on portrayal of a young (slightly neurotic) Bronstein. Everything from the bowed shoulders to the stiff, awkward gait to the effortlessly flowery speech is fabulous to… More
  Not usually laugh-out-loud funny but thoroughly entertaining all the same, mostly due to Baruchel and his spot-on portrayal of a young (slightly neurotic) Bronstein. Everything from the bowed shoulders to the stiff, awkward gait to the effortlessly flowery speech is fabulous to watch. The only real issue I had is that the film tends to coast along and the stakes are never really raised until the last half hour or so. There's plenty of historical jokes and nods to be had (if you've studied your modern history recently), which is all very well and clever and funny... but this would never work if you didn't root for our idealistic protagonist. (Can I plug Baruchel again?) Having a whole film rest on the likeability of the main character doesn't sit terribly well with me, but the script is well-written enough so that it never feels too precarious or self-aware. The quirky charm of this film won me over - Netflix or Zip this one!

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