Ace Acting: TV Movies & Television – A Guide
Here’s a breakdown of teh key points from the provided text, focusing on the movie “The Wizard of the Kremlin”:
The Premise: The movie depicts the rise of Vladimir Putin to power in the early 2000s, focusing on the manipulation behind the scenes. It’s based on a 2022 novel by Guiliano da Empoli.
Miscalculation of Putin: Western powers initially underestimated Putin, believing he would be a controllable, bureaucratic figure. They were wrong. Vadim Baranov – The Real power: The central figure isn’t Putin, but Vadim Baranov (based on Vladislav Surkov), a media manipulator and strategist who crafts Putin’s image and neutralizes opponents. He’s described as a blend of Mark Burnett, Marshall McLuhan, and Roger Stone.
Paul Dano’s Performance: Paul Dano delivers a compelling performance as Baranov, portraying him as a wily, eccentric, and ultimately amoral figure. He speaks with a British accent and embodies a paradoxical character – brilliant yet empty, willing to do anything for Putin’s regime.
Criticisms of the Movie: While the performances are strong, the movie itself is described as “absorbing and diffuse.” It’s episodic, lacks a strong dramatic center, and feels somewhat dated given Putin’s more recent, extreme actions.It’s likened to “The Apprentice” (the Trump drama) in that it had potential but didn’t fully deliver.
Themes: The movie explores themes of political image-making, manipulation, and the rise of postmodern totalitarianism.
In essence, the review highlights a engaging story and strong acting, but suggests the movie doesn’t quite live up to the dramatic weight of its subject matter, especially considering current events.