it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

The acting in this movie is really good.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

The American computer hacker Ray Perso (Norman Reedus) is arrested after releasing money from the ATMs to the people just for fun. He is sent to a hospital to be treated of computer addiction but the Russian mobsters Vasya (Konstantin Yushkevich) and Dolphin (Slava Schoot) rescue him from the hospital and bring him to Russia. Soon he learns that the former accountant of his mother is a lord of the Russian Mafia and asks him to commit a fraud in bank accounts and embezzle the money to his bank account. Meanwhile Ray meets the single mother Maya (Xusha Buravsky) in a brothel and they fall in love with each other."Moroz po kozhe" is a complete mess with an unbelievable story. I saw this movie because of Norman Reedus, who performs the archer Daryl Dixon that is my favorite character of the series "The Walking Dead". Unfortunately the story is awful and corny. His character Ray is a computer hacker that is arrested and sent to a six-month period in a hospital to be treated as a computer addicted in a ridiculous premise. Then two dangerous Russian strangers rescue him from the hospital and take him to Russia. If Ray had been sentenced to a long sentence and could speak Russian, the premise might be acceptable but that is not the case. Then there is a corny romance with a woman that works in a brothel and they fall in love with each other. The conclusion with Ray without any money in a foreigner country with Maya and chased by two governments is a complete nonsense. My vote is three.Title (Brazil): "Operação Moscou" ("Moscow Operation")

It was very intriguing watching a new movie produced by the famous Konchalovsky (Runaway Train, Tango and Cash)The first 15 minutes are interesting, then trouble begins: ridiculous dialogs, unreal situations etc... Inconsistent, unrealistic plot made in superficial picture of post-Soviet Russia. It looks like tabloid-quality scenario with same ridiculous "bad" and "good" guys... The main character appears being bored, just trying to fight his sleep throughout most of his appearances. The soundtrack is OK. Movies like Moskva, Gruz 200, Bumer seem to be infinitely more subtle in giving a portrait of the Russian past and of the reality without being naive or politically engaged. Really very disappointing.

This movie is a fresh and wild look into Russia. It has quirky humor and offbeat characters, is engrossing in its visual style, and Norman Reedus is terrific as an American fish out of water. The Russian ensemble cast - especially Slava Schoot as the violent but lovable character Dolphin - is exceptional. It exposed me to locations and people I have never seen before on screen and its subtle plot twists held my interest throughout. There is a love story amidst the violence with the beautiful character Maya (Xusha Buravsky) which brings sensitivity to the movie. And, the soundtrack of Russian musicians is tight.

Really enjoyed this film. The characters and dialogue helped to bring this story to life. I thought it was a love story with an action twist. It was refreshing to watch a protagonist whose journey was fully thought out by the writer. Being able to watch Ray transform from his down and out beginning without getting heavy handed was nice. It helped that Norman Reedus was good in the role. The movie does not fall apart at the end like most films seem to.I wasn't surprised to see that the writer also directed the film. Beautifully crafted with nice cinematography. I recommend this film.