The Wizard of the Kremlin is a slick, talk-heavy political drama that offers a compelling, if simplified, tour through post‑Soviet Russia’s slide into authoritarianism, anchored by strong performances but held back by a rushed, episodic structure and a sometimes glib tone.  Directed by Olivier Assayas and adapted from Giuliano da Empoli’s novel, the film follows Vadim Baranov (Paul Dano), a fictionalised spin doctor loosely based on real‑life Kremlin strategist Vladislav Surkov, as he helps orchestrate Vladimir Putin’s (Jude Law) rise from the turbulent 1990s into a new era of centralized power.  The story unfolds largely through interviews and flashbacks, blending real events and figures with invented dialogue and composite characters to sketch how media manipulation, oligarchic deals, and staged chaos reshape a nation. 

What lifts the material is the acting. Jude Law delivers a quietly menacing, eerily precise Putin, embodying the leader’s patience and strategic calm, while Paul Dano gives Baranov a cerebral, morally slippery coolness that fits his role as the unseen hand pulling levers. Alicia Vikander and the supporting cast flesh out the inner circle, even when their characters feel more like functions than fully realized people, and several sequences effectively capture a society lurching from post‑communist freefall into curated stability. 

Thematically, the film is at its best when dissecting the craft of propaganda and image management, offering a biting, cautionary look at how authoritarian systems are sold to the public. However, the execution doesn’t always match the ambition. Despite strong scenes, the overall arc can feel rushed and abstract, with an ending that some find abrupt or unsatisfying, which blunts the dramatic payoff. 

Altogether, The Wizard of the Kremlin will likely resonate most with viewers interested in political thrillers, media manipulation, and modern Russian history, offering plenty to engage with as a study in how authoritarianism can be engineered through narrative control and calculated chaos.  Those seeking a deep character study or a tightly plotted drama may be frustrated by the film’s breadth‑over‑depth approach and expository style, but it’s often sharp enough and Law’s turn is strong enough to make it worth watching for anyone curious about the machinery behind modern strongman politics.