Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.

GamerTab That was an excellent one.

Actuakers One of my all time favorites.

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Red-125 The Trotsky (2009) is a Canadian film that was written and directed by Jacob Tierney. It stars Jay Baruchel as Leon Bronstein, a teenager growing up in an affluent neighborhood in English-speaking Montreal. Leon believes that he is the reincarnation of the Russian revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky. (Bronstein was Trotsky's real name.)After trying to organize a union in his father's factory, Leon is not only fired, but he now will have to enter public school, rather than the private school he has been attending. In his new school, Leon first encounters Mrs. Davis, who appears to be a dean. She's played by the late Domini Blythe, a brilliant classical actor. In this role, Blythe plays the most satanic dean in any high school anywhere. Henry Berkhoff, the most satanic school principal, is played by another great actor--Colm Feore.With the two of them standing shoulder-to-shoulder, the students don't have a chance. At least, they didn't have a chance until Leon Bronstein arrives. Using skilled organizing techniques, Bronstein is able to turn the students into a significant presence, which the school cannot ignore. (Especially when the TV cameras arrive.)There's also a ridiculous romance between Leon and an older woman. The less said about that, the better. Just ignore that, and some other false starts, and enjoy Bronstein's fearless actions, as he tries to give the students a sense of their own dignity, and an opportunity to make their school better.We saw this movie on the large screen at the wonderful Dryden Theatre in the Eastman Museum in Rochester. It was shown as part of the excellent Rochester Labor Film Series. The movie will work equally well on the small screen

Dmitry I watched "The Trotsky" for Jay Baruchel and I'm not disappointed - his acting is great. He's funny and smart at the same time and he can deliver these qualities in a pretty good way. This is a strong side of that movie but here's a weak one - the scenario is too flat and too overextended.Idea is pretty simple, movie could be more hilarious and less pretentious but director lost that chance. There isn't a lot of political stuff because story focused mostly on one guy, his behavior and way of thinking, which is very well-played by Jay Baruchel.For me, as Russian, all that pseudo-Soviet stuff in the movie is okay however there's just a small bunch of real Soviet artifacts with no any meaning or explanation to watcher and I wonder if they can decode what all these songs or posters or radio voiceovers mean.

BostonSt This is an indie flick that isn't very funny, the situations are contrived and I thought everything was rather dull and unimaginative. The idea for the movie was however creative and the actors sell everything very nicely....but that's exactly where it ends, if you see the first 10 minutes then you'll have seen the whole thing (wink time savers). I think they stole the idea for the movie from an episode of the Wonder Years. If you are a history buff and really enjoyed the story of Leon Trotsky in 1920's Russia then this is your movie. Lots of 3-piece suit action and walking around from the main character, constantly ruminating about unions and high school, and constantly upset with his father and lawyer. Yes, it's a wonderland of laughs! Seriously, if you have some art house friends and you want to grade actors, this comedy is great, make sure you read the Trotsky encyclopedia page first. But if you want to laugh with your roommates, put The Big Lebowski back on.

DarthVoorhees I loved 'The Trotsky' it is the kind of teen comedy we seldom get, one that acknowledges the hardships of being a teenager but that is also very funny and intelligent. Teens aren't stupid and it seems that many screenwriters think they are. 'The Trotsky' is as much a story about adolescences as it is about teenage brand Bolshevism.Leon Bronstein believes he is the reincarnation of the great hero of the October Revolution Leon Trotsky. I'm sold. It's a brilliant premise and it's execution is seamless. Director Jacob Tierney asks the audience to take a leap of faith. Leon is so convinced of his lineage that he pursues a woman named Alexandra who is ten years older than him because Trotsky did so. This relationship is tricky but I think what makes it work is Jay Baruchel's utmost commitment to the role. He does appear very childlike and this is essential to the brilliance of the story. The teen years are hard and in his uncertainty he turns to Trotsky, the brilliant hero of Bolshevism who was bold and conquered history. Bronstein is questioned about the unsavory details of Trotsky's life such as his infamous murder with the 'ice pick'. The way Baruchel responds is so brilliant, he thinks of Trotsky's life as an adventure which he gets to live through. The way Baruchel delivers this line is funny, uplifting, and even a little sweet. Bronstein wants the whole package; even to the point where he asks a classmate if he is "my Stalin". By all means Leon Bronstein is the kind of character we would expect to be beaten up by cliché jocks but the approach by both Tierney and Baruchel is to create a character driven by passion. Bronstein believes he is Trotsky to the point where others are dragged into his fantasy and I think this satisfies some of the more questionable elements of the script.Not knowing about the Russian Revolution will not hurt your appreciation of the film but it is much funnier if you have some idea about what went down. Tierney has done his homework and the film can become a great inside joke for anyone the least bit familiar with Soviet history.