Jude Law’s upcoming political drama is being lauded for strong performances and a heavy subject, but critics do not seem fully convinced. The film follows the rise of Vladimir Putin through the eyes of a Russian filmmaker who becomes part of the future president’s inner circle. While several reviewers praised the acting, many also pointed to pacing and storytelling problems that hurt the movie overall.
What critics are saying in The Wizard of the Kremlin reviews
Critics had mixed reactions to The Wizard of the Kremlin, especially when it came to its tone and structure. David Sexton from the New Statesman called it “more or less a complete dud,” arguing that the film feels outdated because real-world events tied to Russia and Ukraine have overtaken its story. He also criticized the adaptation for sticking too closely to its source material. Further, The Hollywood Reporter’s Jordan Mintzer compared it to “a six-hour miniseries screened at 1.5x speed.”
Some reviewers, however, found bright spots in the cast. Wendy Ide from The Observer (UK) praised Jude Law’s performance as Putin, writing, “There’s a choking sense of ominous tension whenever he’s on screen.” Still, she felt the actor did not appear enough to carry the movie’s long runtime and slow pacing.
Paul Dano’s performance also drew attention. Tara Brady of The Irish Times said Dano remains “a twinkling enigma,” even though the screenplay turns his character into more of an observer than a major force in the story. Meanwhile, Sight & Sound critic Travis Jeppesen praised director Olivier Assayas for understanding “the inner workings of a totalitarian propaganda state.”
The Wizard of the Kremlin draws poor Rotten Tomatoes score
Despite the high-profile cast, the film currently holds a lacklustre 49% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The cast includes Jude Law, Paul Dano, Alicia Vikander, Jeffrey Wright, Tom Sturridge, Will Keen, Andris Keišs, and Kaspars Kambala. Olivier Assayas directed the movie.
Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya on ComingSoon.
