Stone’s films puncture many of the myths of Putin, even the ones held by Americans sympathetic to him. And that’s why these are important for everyone to watch. The picture Stone and Putin paint is of an eminently pragmatic man, devoid of ideological fervor, but determined to set Russia on a course of long-term prosperity with or without U.S. cooperation.
He will defend Russia’s interests and suffer no reinterpretation of the facts. Putin understands he has to do things under the color of the law to achieve his goals, not to assuage Americans, but everyone else.