Spinning Boris (2003)

Spinning Boris: Directed by Roger Spottiswoode. With Jeff Goldblum, Anthony LaPaglia, Liev Schreiber, Boris Lee Krutonog. Russian political elite hires American consultants to help with President Yeltsin’s re-election campaign when his approval rating is down to single digits.

“I was watching the election returns in my friendsu0026#39; apartment in St. Petersburg on June 16, 1996, and thus had seen the documentary footage in this film first-hand. Watching u0026quot;Spinning Borisu0026quot; on DVD, I did not suspect that it was based on reality rather than conjecture until I watched the interviews with the political consultants on whom it is based. It is a tribute to the writers that the film came off as incredible fiction. Very enjoyable. The dialogue is very clever among the Americans (in the good old u0026quot;buddy movieu0026quot; tradition) , and I was impressed at the texture of the Russian setting, all the while not believing the story line. (I recall less dire numbers in the polls, although my Russian friends were very worried about a possible return to Communism). u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eApparently, though, I found more humor in the filmu0026#39;s situations than I really should have, considering it was based on fact. I regret that this film did not get broader press coverage, for it is as relevant to the current situation in American politics as to the Russian events it portrays.”