"Review of 'The Wizard of the Kremlin': Olivier Assayas' vaguer narrative, brimming with moments of amusement, features Jude Law portraying Putin in a depiction of post-Soviet Russia"

In the heart of post-Soviet Russia, spanning from the fall of the U.S.S.R in the late 1980s to the 2014 invasion of Crimea, lies the intriguing narrative of Olivier Assayas' latest feature, "The Wizard of the Kremlin".

The film, narrated by Paul Dano's character, Vadim (or Vlad) Baranov, offers a captivating portrayal of Russian history, touching upon significant events such as the Chechen War, Moscow terrorist attacks, and the Sochi Olympics.

Vadim Baranov, a character inspired by Putin's former right-hand man and spin doctor, Vladislav Surkov, navigates the cutthroat world of Russian politics. Jude Law portrays Russia's future dictator, Vladimir Putin, in the film.

The movie provides a credible and disconcerting portrayal of how oligarchs backed Putin's rise, and the consequences for those who turned against him. It also offers an entertaining primer on the transformation of a former Communist country into a capitalist regime ruled by an authoritarian leader.

The plot moves swiftly between various locations including Moscow, London, and other capitals. Jeffrey Wright plays an American professor who is summoned to Baranov's estate outside Moscow, while Alicia Vikander portrays Ksenia, Baranov's on-and-off girlfriend who is attracted to powerful men.

The film includes lookalikes to play brief parts such as Boris Berezovsky, Edouard Liminov, and Yevgeny Prigozhin. Some of Olivier Assayas' previous works include "Late August, Early September", "Summer Hours", "Non-Fiction", and "Suspended Time". He is also known for his English-language films like "Boarding Gate", "Demonlover", "Personal Shopper", and "Wasp Network".

Interestingly, the script for "The Wizard of the Kremlin" is based on French-Italian writer Giuliano da Empoli's bestselling novel from 2022. The main character of the film, Vadim Baranov, is ultimately Russia itself, according to Assayas.

However, the plot becomes convoluted with too many characters and events, potentially making it less suitable for a gripping narrative. Regardless, "The Wizard of the Kremlin" promises to be an engaging exploration of modern Russian history and politics.