Hollywood film director Oliver Stone (“Platoon”, “Natural Born Killers”) carries out arguably the most interesting and extensive series of interviews with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. A major departure from mainstream American and European media attempts to depict Putin, this is refreshing, moving and brilliant.

Over a year and a half, Oliver Stone carried out several short interviews with Vladimir Putin. No topic appears to be off-limits as they delve into everything from his rise to power, his thoughts on American politics and the American people, his faith, counter-terrorism, history and the crisis in Ukraine. By the end, you may not agree with Putin but you may at least come to respect his abilities.

Oliver Stone does not approach the interviews like a normal journalist would and it’s so liberating to see the two just engage in a conversation. Many controversial leaders such as Bashar al-Assad come across horribly in interviews. In contrast, Putin seems intelligent, rational, devout, precise and like a chess player. While his actions in his office may have had negative consequences for America and its allies, you at least come to understand the Russian perspective. At one point, the two watch “Dr. Strangelove” together and Putin makes some interesting observations and cracks a genuinely hilarious joke.

Oliver Stone may have some questionable politic views and he’s known to have previously been friendly with Fidel Castro when he interviewed him. However, Stone is not a journalist, he’s a filmmaker with a keen interest in politics. He fought in Vietnam and has put politics at the heart of his films. He never tries to catch Putin out and so the two come to trust each other and Stone secures the better interview because of it. Putin continues to be one of the most powerful leaders and he is loved and loathed like few others so maybe it is better we at least hear his side of the story.