Spinning Boris

2003
R
1h 52m

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

1.2K

YOUR RATING

Comedy Drama

Russian political elite hires American consultants to help with President Yeltsin's re-election campaign when his approval rating is down to single digits.Russian political elite hires American consultants to help with President Yeltsin's re-election campaign when his approval rating is down to single digits.Russian political elite hires American consultants to help with President Yeltsin's re-election campaign when his approval rating is down to single digits.

Director
- Roger Spottiswoode
Writers
- Yuri Zeltser
- Grace Cary Bickley
Stars

See production, box office & company info

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

1.2K

YOUR RATING

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination

Trivia
Not portrayed in the film is Steven Moore who, at 27 years old, was the junior member of the team who stayed in Moscow during the entire campaign. Much of the script was drafted using the daily memos that Moore wrote to keep the traveling senior consultants informed of developments on the campaign.

Goofs
Half way the film, the three protagonists are discussing Tatiana inside Lenin's Mausoleum at the Red Square. It is however strictly forbidden to stand still and speak inside the mausoleum.

Quotes
Joe Shumate: I know what you're thinking.
George Gorton: Do you? Then you're about to go f**k yourself.

Connections
References A Clockwork Orange (1971)

User reviews28

Review

Featured review

9/10

Most authentic portrayal of (New) Russians by any American film

From the biznessmen to the government officials, even the hotel lounge's Elvis impersonator, the dialogue, spoken language, actors, character portrayals and cultural depictions are so authentically Russian, it's frightening. And hilarious. Which makes it all the more difficult to believe this a product of American cinema, which seems to prefer perpetuating tired and/or exaggerated Russian stereotypes (whether due to ignorance or apathy is still open to debate). Anthropologically speaking, this film's a bull's-eye; historically, who knows? High production values (including stock footage from the actual campaign -- see Yeltsin dance!), quality casting and genuine humor make for good times. More so if you know Russia(n), less so, perhaps, if you don't. I'm recommending it to friends, and I'd watch it again. Na zdoroviye.

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