The career revival that Keanu Reeves kickstarted with the John Wick movies comes to an abrupt halt in director Matthew Ross’s dreary tale of chicanery set in the Russian diamond trade. Reeves stars as Lucas Hill, who arrives in St. Petersburg to complete a deal to sell rare blue diamonds to Russian mobster Boris (Pasha D. Lychnikoff). Unfortunately, his partner—who is supposed to have the stones—has disappeared, forcing Hill to travel to Siberia to try to retrieve them. Here he runs afoul of some loutish locals, only to be rescued by Katya (Ana Ularu), a bartender who quickly falls into bed with Hill. But there is still that unfinished business with Boris, so a fearful Hill enlists the help of a big-time South African dealer interested in acquiring the diamonds himself. And to add a bit of confusion, there is an intervention by corrupt Russian government agents. Siberia rouses itself for a climactic gun battle in the snow, but for most of its running-time the film is a murky, tedious trek through uninteresting territory with the perpetually morose Reeves as an uncharismatic travelling companion. Not recommended. (F. Swietek)
Siberia
Lionsgate, 104 min., R, DVD: $19.98, Blu-ray: $21.99, Sept. 18 Volume 33, Issue 5
Siberia
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