Overview
- Oliver Assayas’s adaptation of Giuliano Da Empoli’s bestseller opens in cinemas on Wednesday, bringing the political novel to the big screen.
- Paul Dano plays Vadim Baranov, a Vladislav Surkov–like adviser who anchors the narrative, while Vladimir Putin appears as a supporting figure.
- Jude Law prepared by studying archival footage and opts for an impression rather than strict mimicry, emphasizing gesture, cadence and presence.
- Initial appraisals describe a well-crafted thriller whose clarity can feel didactic, with performances from Dano and Law singled out for strength.
- When Law’s casting as Putin became public, cinephiles reacted with skepticism or mockery before seeing the approach he ultimately took.