It is fair to address up front the fact that I didn’t get audio description with my screener, and as a blind film critic, that’s always preferred. Anyone who just looked at my review for Blue Film would note that it doesn’t prevent me from thinking critically about every single film, and certainly, I feel like it didn’t stop me either here. However, from what I can tell, this film will be in theaters with audio description, which makes it a bit more awkward. That being said, Vertical is unreliable in pushing theatrical audio description all the way through, passing it down into VOD for rent/buy, or onto streaming services. So, even though it may have it, likely few will ever hear it. Last year, I reviewed Dead Of Winter from Vertical, only for someone to reach out to me to let me know it had theatrical audio description. I missed seeing an opportunity to rent it with audio description, and when it landed on HBO MAX, it still was missing audio description. Sometimes, I do wonder about reviewing and finalizing my grade for a film that has something that just wasn’t provided to me, but again, very few will likely ever hear the track to begin with.

That, and the way the film is structured, with built in narration from either Jeffrey Wright or Paul Dano, as the structure is an interview that serves as a catalyst for a historical trip down memory lane, doesn’t suggest open gaps for robust audio description. I’m sure I’d have more clarity, but clarity does not always increase a score so dramatically it catapults into a recommend. Another reason I feel pretty good in delivering final judgment is that I fell asleep during the first pass. it doesn’t happen to me that much, but I was grateful for the ability to just press play again, essentially watching this twice, back to back, albeit fragmented.

Dano is the titular wizard, a fictional representation of a man who actually helped Vladimir Putin (Jude Law) rise to power. he’s telling his story about how someone like him, so unassuming, quiet, and presumably apolitical got in the game to begin with. So, it becomes a walk down a historical timeline of Russia, leading up to the selection of Putin as the next one, the chosen one, and exploring the eccentricities of Russian politics and history. It’s all based on a book, and it feels like it is, as they adapt the structure.

We see dano’s Wizard have to pick and choose aspects of his life in order to continue his rise, but as with everything Russian, there’s always something else at work or play, some espionage aspect working against, or behind the scenes. Dano feels safe, and not, at the same time. Proximity to power is not necessarily power, as the film lands in the end.

There are some mentions of historically recognizable figures like Boris Yeltzin or Gary Kasparov, for those playing historical bingo, though I’m sure audiences who know more about Russian politics will find more names passing through.

This originally premiered at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival, and it was met with mixed reactions, but most noted pacing and length as a problem. that version has been trimmed down from my guess is maybe 15-20 minutes based on reports frrom Venice. But, I still felt the length of the film, and it still lacked suspense. This has been referred to as a political thriller, but to me it was political ambien. Sometimes i get trapped in a stuffy British drama that feels historical, yet still old fashioned, and dull.This was like that, and also reminded me of Chernobyl, where everyone has accents that aren’t regional. Even Americans Dano and Wright seem to be going for what I can best describe as “Elevated American” or “Vaguely European”. I’m not sure they sound indicative of any one country or region, but both seem to want to produce some accent, to match talent like Law and Alicia vikander. It’s a little like Jude law’s accent in Black Rabbit, which was an attempt at American, but with a hint of clearly not.

Jude Law is the best thing going on here, and it would be a tough sell to run an Oscar campaign for him with such a mediocre film, so it’ll just get lost to the sands of time like other stellar performances from Law over the years. I love Paul Dano. he’s overdue for an Oscar nomination. I fully disagree with Quentin Tarantino over his There Will Be Blood performance, which should have been his first Oscar nomination, but he also deserved it for The Fablemans. An extraordinary, thoughtful actor, he’s clearly trying something, it just isn’t working. he comes across as shy, more than quietly plotting, more muted than conspiratory.

Opening this on the weekend where the biggest competition are holdovers in their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th weekends, and against a low budget buzzy horror film might have been the smartest move, to work this as counterprogramming. During Oscar season, it would be clobbered by films with actual chances and real critical praise. Here, it allows itself a chance to stand on its own as a non-Oscar bait film, just a timely glance into Russian politics, and one of the most dominating figures of the 21st century, and the guy who apparently was responsible for getting him there. Don’t mistake this for The Apprentice though, as that film was way better, and Roy Cohn would have eaten this guy alive.

The Wizard Of The Kremlin is an accessible look into Russian politics, but that’s about it. Aside from a remarkable performance by Jude Law, the film is slow, lethargic, and at times ambivalent to why it exists in the first place. If you were looking for The Apprentice: Putin edition, you’ll be disappointed.

Rotten: 5/10