Best movie of this year hands down!

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

I would not call NINOTCHKA controversial film. Political comedy in the late thirties by line developments were controversial. The differences between the two worlds are not likely to appear in the right way. I think that's good, because it is a comedy and Garbo. Lubitsch had chosen a great topic in which Garbo fits. Garbo between two worlds. The director deliberately exaggerating the degree of cynicism and comparisons. In a serious relationship director put a little thing called love. Not honestly, but it is funny. I still say that Garbo did not know laugh. Therein lies all the mysticism and magic that binds to her name. Image and scenery are very good. Acting and dialogues are great.Greta Garbo as Nina Ivanovna "Ninotchka" Yakushova It is a particular comedian. Her style is fantastic. Shifts between cold and uninterested envoy and playful girl in love is fascinating. Melvyn Douglas (Count Léon d'Algout), as an insidious capitalistic meddler is nonchalant and excellent paired with a leading lady.This movie is one big joke, which can all laugh. However, I think when the perceived political framework is little disposed to laughter.

The movie starts very well, but ends badly. From the outset the movie is funny - full of great one-liners and social observations. Also a great political satire - mocking the evil of Soviet Russia and the naivety and stupidity of communism with some great satire. Capitalism doesn't get off scot-free either: the superficiality of some elements of it are also exposed.The opening few scenes also give a great insight into the European zeitgeist of the mid/late-1930s, especially the competing forces of capitalism, communism and fascism/nazism.From this auspicious start, a monumentally great movie was in the offing. However, from a point the movie takes itself far too seriously as a romantic drama. Instead of a political satire, or just plain comedy, it becomes a schmaltzy romantic drama, and a fairly predictable and conventional one at that.Even the humour becomes tired, predictable, more-of-the-same, rather than the fresh, sharp comedy from the first few scenes. The final few scenes are quite dull.It's as if the writer, the legendary Billy Wilder, ran out of ideas about half way through.Good performance by Greta Garbo as Ninotchka. Her cool, humourless impression of a Russian bureaucrat was something to behold. Melvyn Douglas is the clown to her straight guy, and does it very well. The three bumbling Russian officials are also played well.

I like the story.We have Greta Garbo as a no nonsense Russian woman who,it seems,has her mind made up about the world and cannot be deterred from her assessments.She simply cannot be reached.Or can she? Melvyn Douglas gives it his best shot.His efforts to raise a smile fall flat as one seemingly sure fire funny story after another falls flat.Paydirt is finally reached through comical misfortune.It becomes a love story at that point,and a reasonably good one at that,inserted with an even amount of humor,romance and dramatic moments.I would visit this film again should I come across it on television in the future.Eat your heart out,Buster Keaton!

Ninotchka (1939)*** 1/2 (out of 4)Terrific romantic-comedy about a stern Russian named Ninotchka (Greta Garbo) who is sent to Paris to look in on three men who were unable to sell some jewelry due to some legal issues. Once there Ninotchka strikes up a relationship with Leon (Melvyn Douglas) who has his own reasons for wanting the jewels. Director Ernst Lubitsch hits all the right moves with this film and turns it into one of the best of its type. It's easy to see why so many people consider 1939 to be the greatest year for movies and this one here is another one of the jewels from that era. Although I'd stop short of calling this a masterpiece, there's still no question that it features a legend at the top of her game and a terrific supporting cast around her. It's funny to see the original advertisements talk about Garbo laughing since this was a very rare thing. Just like her first talking picture, which MGM played up, the moment here when she finally laughs is just a classic scene and one of the most memorable. There are so many classic moments in this film but the majority of the credit has to go to Garbo who is simply wonderful. The stern way she plays this character is just so funny and her line deliveries are flawless. When it comes time for the character to break and have some fun the actress pulls this off remarkably well. It also helps that Douglas is so great in the film and perfectly plays off the actress. Ina Claire, Sig Ruman, Felix Bressart, Alexander Granach and Bela Lugosi are also very good in their supporting parts. NINOTCHKA is full of wonderfully funny moments from start to finish and it's easy to see why it's considered such a classic of its genre.