The Wizard of the Kremlin presents the curious offering of Jude Law as Vladimir Putin, a casting few would have thought was likely for anyone, least of all the star who made his name as a charming leading man in Alfie and The Holiday.

But while this new film from French director Olivier Assayas stumbles a few times, Law puts in an assured, somewhat uncanny performance.

It’s fitting for an actor who is now in one of the most promising eras of his career, freed from being considered just a heartthrob, to now sink his teeth into character roles.

And he clearly wants to make that statement with this choice – first, he was an overweight, ulcer-riddled Henry VIII in 2023’s Firebrand, and now he is the warmongering dictator ruling as Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin.

Despite the presence of

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