Tetris

Plot

Henk Rogers is a video game designer working for Bullet Proof SoftWare when he discovers a new game called Tetris. Falling in love with it, he persuades his family to let him risk everything to make it a success.

Direction

From Scottish director Jon S Baird comes this fun, energetic film. A few things to note, this is a historical biography – and is about the history of the game Tetris, and how it came to be one of the most popular games on the planet. It is not for children, as there is intense course language spattered all the way through.

There is fun use of 8bit graphics that show on screen, that dissolve into ‘real life’ and other times are spliced onto the screen – such as during the exciting third act car chase sequence.

Cast/Characters

Taron Egerton is solid as the Dutch born American (living in Japan), Henk Rogers – who risks it all to secure the rights to sell Tetris from the original manufacturer, the Soviet owned ELORG. He has grown from his Eggy role from The Kingsman series into more mature, dramatic roles.

Nikita Yefremov plays the role of Alexey Pajitnov – the creator of the most original concept of Tetris. He forms a slow building friendship with Henk, as the American wants to help him escape the frightening communist led country of Soviet Russia.

Sofya Lebedeva plays Sasha, who meets Henk in Russia, and acts as his translator – later revealing herself as an agent of the KGB. I particularly enjoyed her character arc the most, as she becomes disillusioned with one of her superiors – and plays a pivotal role in the third act.

Filled with international cast, from Russia, USA, Britain and Japan, who do marvelous jobs. Special mention should go to the Russian cast as they each play their roles to perfection, especially as life is somewhat imitating art in the real world with Russia in the last few years.

Screenplay/Setting/Themes

As similar to the international cast, the film has many international locations such as Japan, USA and Russia. Filming locations, were however in cities of Scotland, such as Glasgow, Edinburgh etc.

It is mostly filled with ‘technical’ talk as well as finites of contracts – but when some of the scenes are played out on screen they are done with some great performances (primarily by Egerton) – and make you root for him all the more. One moment in particular, when ELORG boss Belikov is running back and forth between rooms that contain Hank and the two men he is bidding against, is played out with great blend of dramatic and comedic flair.

Executive Produced by the real-life Henk Rogers and Alexey Pajitnov (who remain good friends). While they have admitted some of the film was ‘Hollywood-ised’ – they enjoyed the end result.

As it is a biographical film, the ‘underdog’ element is also done to the Hollywood effect. Hank’s winning personality, and savvy when it comes to the tech and contract talk is what wins it for him in the end.

I found the history of the game from the name (tetra = 4) and how control of the game passed from one corporation to another extremely interesting! I am also grateful that people smarter than me are in charge of these things!

Score/Soundtrack

I found this part of the film one of the most enjoyable, especially when the Tetris theme was paired with both modern aspects, and themes within the film. In the latter part of the film we have a soviet sounding theme, which worked brilliantly.

There is also a fun use of ‘I need a hero’ at bookends of the film, in both Japanese and Russian.

Overall

I thoroughly enjoyed this, and while some of the contract negotiation talk went over my head at times.

The cast all did a wonderful job, with Egerton delivering as lead – and putting his earlier work in the Kingsman franchise behind him.

The secondary cast all were great as well. Special mention goes to Oleg Stefan as Belikov, Igor Grabuzov as KGB agent Trifonov and Anthony Boyle as Mr Maxwell Kevin.

Give this one a watch.

4/5