Many were hit hard by Alan Rickman's death this past January, and it's easy to understand why. Immortalized by the Harry Potter franchise for his role as anti-hero Severus Snape, Rickman loomed large over a generation of moviegoers. The resonance of this role is so powerful that it's occasionally difficult to remember the varied nature of Rickman's career outside of J. K. Rowling's world. That is why the now apparently unavailable TV-film, Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny, is so important. Not only does it remind audiences of Rickman's startling range, but it also showcases the actor in a rare leading role. Rasputin is, essentially, an opportunity to see Rickman at his most pronounced. The effect of this is fantastic, dark and wonderful, even if the film itself is rather slight. Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny doesn't spend much time on exposition, barely skimming the surface of its titular hero's early years. Born in the later half of the 19th century, Rasputin is shown going nowhere fast for the first half of his life. He is considered by all in his small, Siberian community to be an odd duck, and the mystical air he exudes is treated with fascination, derision and violence. One day, while plowing a field and looking generally miserable, he is confronted by a brigade of horse riders. After he delivers a hilarious retort to their boorish bullying, he is beaten senseless into the hard, Siberian tundra. This provokes an ambiguous vision of the Virgin Mary, and eventually prompts him to become a well-known priest and healer. Directed by the German-born Uli Edel (who recently slummed it up by helming Nick Cage's latest DTV effort), Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny is a lushly rendered bit of historical drama. From the cavernous Budapest and St. Petersburg settings, to the Emmy-nominated costumes and cinematography, Rasputin succeeds in being a transporting piece of non-fiction - at least on a superficial level. The primary actors also give fully committed performances. Greta Scacchi - who also won an Emmy for her work in the film - brings the doomed Alexandra to life, easily evoking a woman both fascinated and repelled by Rickman's mad monk. Ian Mckellen is also quite good as the entirely inept Nicholas, portraying a stilted man whose arrogance and incompetence spells disaster for all around him. His performance is, essentially, a treat, and one that has an enhanced gravity now that he is no longer here. It's a poignant thing to watch deceased actors do great work after they have prematurely passed away. It also reminds us of how neat cinema is, and how it allows you to continue engaging with great performers through the work they leave behind.
Review of Rasputin
