Giuliano da Empoli’s bestselling satirical novel The Wizard of the Kremlin, which centers on a Putin-era spin doctor named Vadim Baranov and draws inspiration from the shadowy Russian politician Vladislav Surkov, has been turned into a frustratingly slow and literal-minded film. It’s weighed down by endless, tedious voiceover narration. The screenplay was adapted by its respected director, Olivier Assayas, in collaboration with the acclaimed author and journalist Emmanuel Carrère—who even makes a cameo as a condescending French intellectual at a rowdy Moscow student party in the early ’90s, smugly telling the young crowd that it was the communism they’d just abandoned that truly valued the arts.
The story moves through the 1990s decline of ailing President Boris Yeltsin and the rise of FSB chief Vladimir Putin, who was promoted to prime minister by powerful oligarchs expecting him to be their puppet. Through the eyes of the cynical media manipulator Baranov, we witness Putin’s 2000 election victory, the sinking of the Kursk submarine—which tested Putin’s neo-Stalinist resolve as he ignored public pressure orchestrated by the unreliable courtier and media tycoon Boris Berezovsky (later to die in lonely exile in the UK)—the Chechen wars, the annexation of Crimea, the growth of internet disinformation campaigns, and Putin’s deepening hostility toward Ukraine.
Will Keen plays the arrogant Berezovsky, Tom Sturridge is private banker Dimitri Sidorov (based on Mikhail Khodorkovsky), and Alicia Vikander does her best with the underwritten role of “Ksenia,” a fictional girlfriend who leaves Baranov for Sidorov.
Jude Law, in a bland suit and with a sinister, thinning combover, plays Putin—referred to throughout as the “tsar.” He convincingly mimics Putin’s mannerisms: the thin smile, the wince of disgust at weakness or disloyalty, and the brisk, fastidious handshake followed by a curt gesture directing cowed visitors to their seat. (This is from the era before guests were made to sit at the far end of an absurdly long table.) Paul Dano plays the supposedly fascinating and enigmatic Baranov—the Surkov-like “wizard” or Rasputin-esque power behind the throne. Baranov begins as a liberal idealist and theater producer who admires Yevgeny Zamyatin’s anti-Stalin satire We (which inspired Orwell), but as he climbs Putin’s ladder of power, he comes to see it as a blueprint for sophisticated repression.
Unfortunately, Dano’s performance is one-note, delivered in a smirking, singsong manner almost as if he’s hypnotized. It’s sleep-inducing both on screen and in the relentless voiceover that drones through nearly the entire film. (He’s supposedly recounting his story in flashback to an American academic played by Jeffrey Wright.) Dano’s unfocused portrayal lacks the style and subtlety of, say, his performance as Count Bezukhov in the BBC’s War and Peace. In fact, the whole film lacks the style and insight of recent comparable works, like Peter Morgan’s play Patriots (which featured Tom Hollander as Berezovsky and Will Keen as Putin in its London production) or Kirill Serebrennikov’s film Limonov: The Ballad, with Ben Whishaw as the punk writer turned Russian ultranationalist Eduard Limonov—who makes a brief, far less compelling appearance in this movie. Ironically, Serebrennikov’s film was based on a biographical novel by Emmanuel Carrère.
Law keeps things moving with his cold, imposing portrayal of power—part pope, part mobster—but the film doesn’t delve very deeply into Putin’s psychology. I’d much rather see a Putin movie that explores the true story of how Putin, genuinely excited by Russia’s…After director Andrei Zvyagintsev won the Golden Lion at Venice for “The Return” in 2003, he was invited to tea at the Kremlin, where his host enthusiastically waved around a pirated DVD of the film. In contrast, “The Wizard of the Kremlin” comes across as hollow in its calculated cynicism, culminating in a ridiculous and unearned burst of violence at the end. Dano’s character lacks believability—whether as a young liberal, a seasoned political operator, or the wistful narrator looking back from retirement. His performance feels cold and devoid of magic. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the adaptation of The Wizard of the Kremlin designed to sound natural and provide clear direct answers
General Information
Q What is The Wizard of the Kremlin about
A Its a film adaptation of the bestselling novel It follows the story of a powerful political strategist who works behind the scenes to build Vladimir Putins public image and power in Russia
Q Who stars in the movie
A Jude Law plays the lead role of Vladimir Putin
Q Is this a true story
A Its based on a novel that is heavily inspired by real events and figures particularly Putins former political advisor Vladislav Surkov Its a fictionalized account not a strict documentary
Q Is the movie out yet Where can I watch it
A As of now this is an announced project It is currently in development so a release date and streaming platform have not been confirmed Keep an eye on entertainment news for updates
About the Casting Performance
Q Why was Jude Law cast as Putin
A Casting often focuses on an actors ability to capture the essence of a character rather than being a perfect lookalike Jude Law is a renowned actor known for his transformative performances and the filmmakers likely trusted him to embody Putins mannerisms and intensity
Q How did Jude Law prepare for the role
A While specific details arent public actors in such roles typically undergo extensive research This likely included studying videos of Putin working with dialect coaches to master his speech patterns and using prosthetics or makeup to enhance the physical resemblance
Q Is the performance meant to be sympathetic or critical of Putin
A Given the source material the film will likely explore the complex and manipulative nature of power It probably wont portray Putin as a straightforward hero or villain but will show the calculated and often dark strategies used to maintain control
About the Source Material Story
Q Do I need to read the book before watching the movie
A No the movie will be designed to stand on its own However reading the book could provide deeper context and background on the characters and the intricate political machinations
Q What is the main theme of the story
A The central theme is
