Who is The Wizard of the Kremlin ? Based on the satirical novel of the same name by Guiliano da Empoli The Wizard of the Kremlin is Putin’s spin doctor Vadim Baranov as played by Paul Dano. Starting off initially as a meeting between Baranov and US academic Rowland (Jeffrey Wright) the film is told in flashbacks and voice overs starting in the 1990’s So we first meet Baranov as a theatre director before slifdng into the role of arch manipulator of FSB chief Valdimir Putin (an icily effective Jude Law) who usurps the declining powers of the then President and vodka over indulger Boris Yeltzin.

In turn its Putin who the Russian oligarchs regard as their puppet to utilize for their own ends with Baranov as the enigmatic orchestrator watching on with a smirk and the real power behind the throne. The Wizard of the Putin rise to power So as Putin, referred to here as the Tzar, rises to power he deals with any potentially destabilizing matters with a Stalin like ruthless indifference to those below him like some sort of soviet Meghan Markle. In that capacity Baranov puppeteers Putin dealing with the tragic Kursk submarine accident, along with the annexation of Crimea and his increasing dislike of Ukraine.

Much of this is given a documentary feel with its use of real life news footage. Wizard acting? But the heart of the film is Dano and Law’s performances.

Law is something of a revelation as Putin but Dano less so playing his role coolly cynical, smirking and delivering his lines on a barely modulating vocal level which works for the character but might also be the reason why Tarantino unfairly called him out as ‘weak’ and ‘uninteresting’ and it’s a performance that might well alienate audiences. The inclusion also of Alicia Vikander as his fictional love interest is unnecessary too with little dramatically for he to get her teeth into. At 153 minutes The Wizard of the Kremlin is overlong but like the very best of political thrillers the machinations of politics is utterly compelling. related feature : How Paul Dano came up with The Riddler costume…… related feature : Where does award winning director Kevin Macdonald keep his Oscar? – He tell us about ‘The Mauritanian’ Here’s the trailer…..