Spinning Boris is a 2003 American comedy film directed by Roger Spottiswoode and starring Jeff Goldblum, Anthony LaPaglia and Liev Schreiber. In the film, Boris Yeltsin secretly hires three American consultants during his 1996 reelection campaign, when his approval rating was at 6%. With the help of the consultants, Yeltsin won the election six months later. The film claimed to be based on the true story of three American political consultants who worked for the successful reelection campaign of Boris Yeltsin in 1996. Plot In early 1996, three Republican campaign operatives take a secret job to assist Boris Yeltsin's reelection. Once in Moscow, they learn Yeltsin is polling at 6% against the communists with the election only a few months away. They decide to vote on whether to stay. Dick Dresner wants to go home, George Gorton and Joe Shumate vote to stay in Moscow. They get the attention of Yeltsin's daughter. They then start to do polling, focus groups, messaging, and spin. Yeltsin's poll numbers begin to go up. The three men are unsure who hired them. They do not know whether Yeltsin's allies want him to win. Cast See also Boris Yeltsin presidential campaign, 1996 History of Russia (1991–present)#"Shock therapy" Shock Therapy References External links Article about film (Russian) Time Magazine article (July 15, 1996) detailing the events in the movie 2003 films American political comedy-drama films Cultural depictions of Boris Yeltsin 2000s political comedy-drama films American films based on actual events Films set in 1996 Films set in Russia Films about elections Films about presidents Films directed by Roger Spottiswoode Films scored by Jeff Danna 2003 comedy films 2003 drama films 2000s English-language films 2000s American films