The Half Life of Timofey Berezin

R

2006

1 hr. 47 min.

Drama

List

57%

7 Reviews

Tomatometer

66%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Dying from radiation poisoning, a man (Paddy Considine) gets mixed up in a plutonium scheme with a small-time criminal (Oscar Isaac).

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Premiered Feb 07

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Audience Member

Oscar Issac's first movie. Beautiful movie. Beautiful score by Abel Korenlowski.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Spotty accents aside, the depressing tone is its only downside.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

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Audience Member

Pu-239 a.k.a. The Half Life of Timofey Berezin is about Timofey, a worker at a Russian nuclear plant that has seen better days. He appears to be a simple man but the sporadic narration by the main character shows his true knowledge. An accident occurs at the plant and he and his family are relieved to learn it was a non-lethal dose of radiation. Upon him delving deeper into the incident he learns what he was told is not the truth and must risk everything for his family. He is thrust into the Russian underworld after meeting a black market dealer. Their relationship is unique and builds as they learn more about each other. The movie is filled with quirky characters and situations as well as wonderful cinematography. It shows how far a husband and a father will go to ensure his families survival. Watch closely at the end to truly appreciate the magnitude of the actions. 8 out of 10 - Recommended for all audiences; some science education will help but is not needed. Rated R Dain Binder <a href="http://www.dainsmoviereviews.com/2009/07/pu-239-2009.html">http://www.dainsmoviereviews.com/2009/07/pu-239-2009.html</a>

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

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Audience Member

Wonderfull movie, all the characters had great dynamics...its very eye opening, the information the main character gives out...I really urge everyone to watch this...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

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Audience Member

Definitely better than the 50% critics' rating! It's got decent direction (esp. for a debut) and the acting is actually pretty good by all, with Considine the stand-out even though it's an understated role for him. Only thing that lets it down is the pacing and probably the plot wanders a bit more than you want from a 'thriller'. The sort of film that's really great if you just happen upon it without expectation, but not probably quite up to par for an evening-in's main feature.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie is just another hidden gem from HBO. It is a little slow to start, but this is probably the darkest comedy ( and funniest in a twisted way) that you will ever see. Paddy Considine plays the lead in a character that you can tell would normally be an awkward nerd, but forced by extreme circumstances to do what he must to save his family.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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Scott Z. Burns

Director

Paddy Considine

Timofey

Radha Mitchell

Marina

Oscar Isaac

Shiv

Jason Flemyng

Vlad

Nikolaj Lie Kaas

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Eddie Cockrell

Variety

Imagine anticipating a Ken Loach film and being shown a Guy Ritchie movie.

Sep 23, 2006

Full Review

Adam Nayman

eye WEEKLY

The film is undone by sloppy plotting, over-deliberate writing and a few terrible ebbs in tone.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 23, 2006

Full Review

John DeFore

Hollywood Reporter

Solidly made, timely and spotlighting a fine performance by Paddy Considine.

Sep 13, 2006

Full Review

Matt McKillop

Filmcritic.com

a minor-key drama

Rated: 4/5

Jan 1, 2008

Full Review

Jason Gorber

Film Scouts

It's a quirky mix of incompetent bureaucrats and small time gangsters trying to carve a life in the new Russia.

Rated: B+

Jun 21, 2007

Full Review

Susan Green

Boxoffice Magazine

This sad but intriguing premise wanes in a mish-mash of attempted Russian accents and clumsy storytelling.

Rated: 2.5/4

Dec 7, 2006

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Synopsis

Dying from radiation poisoning, a man (Paddy Considine) gets mixed up in a plutonium scheme with a small-time criminal (Oscar Isaac).

Director: Scott Z. Burns
Executive Producer: Steven Soderbergh, George Clooney, Ben Cosgrove, Jennifer Fox, Armyan Bernstein, Zanne Devine, Peter Berg
Screenwriter: Scott Z. Burns
Production Co: Plutonium Production Limited, HBO Films, Section Eight Ltd., Beacon Pictures
Rating: R (Sexual Content|Language|Brief Drug Use|Violence)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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