STORYLINE: A young Russian filmmaker becomes an unlikely advisor to Vladimir Putin as he rises to power in post-Soviet Russia, navigating the new era’s complexities and chaos. (IMDb)

    Political intrigue,, both at home and abroad, can be expressed in many ways.  Films including Judgement at Nuremberg (1961), Reds (1981), Munich (2005),  and Argo (2012) all express that intrigue in one way or another. The latest Jude Law feature, Wizard of the Kremlin, let’s its voice be heard, as it joins there ranks.

   International political films, by definition, are set either on the world stage, or outside of the American political system. The Wizard of the Kremlin is, in a very general sense, about Russian politics.  The movie is about Putin’s ascension to power, and his first decade in office. The movie isn’t from the perspective of Putin, but rather an advisor, of his.  

   This makes Putin a secondary character in a political motion picture, about his politics.  This decision would not have mattered, if the central character had been the more interesting of the two.  Instead, we watch a duel narrative, the second being this filmmakers career in both the entertainment, industry, and the political world, as he advises the Russian leader.  Being what should have been a few talking points, for a side kick character, all of a sudden thrust into a 2+ hour movie, creates a long overdrawn feature film.

    The more interesting story, being Putin’s, is put on the back burner.  It felt liked it was cherry picked, and not even the best parts were put in to The Wizard of the Kremlin.

    The Wizard of the Kremlin was a missed opportunity for an interesting political thriller. This could of easily been the kind of movie the recalled classic political thrillers such as The Manchurian Candidate (1962) and JFK (1991) but fell short.

    Until next time, I will see you at the movies!