No, not THAT kind of vice…
This one’s an extraordinary comedic bio drama of how George W. Bush chose Halliburton CEO Dick Cheney to be his running mate in the 2000 presidential election.
A VP pick that re-directed the country—and for that matter, the world.
And who better to helm the project than celebrated writer and director Adam McKay of “The Big Short” fame.
So did McKay properly capture the times and quirks of his subject?
More, I would imagine, than I could ever share in this brief overview.
Casting Christian Bale in the title role was a stroke of genius as Bale brilliantly transforms his entire being into that of the vice president, down to his one-sided grin.
But without the support of the film’s impressive supporting cast we wouldn’t have the terrific end-product this movie has turned out to be. Proof in the pudding are the six Golden Globe nominations already bequeathed on “VICE” by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association as well as numerous other honors from various critics groups across the country.
“VICE” was nominated in the following six Golden Globes categories.
* Best Picture
* Best Actor (Christian Bale)
* Best Supporting Actress (Amy Adams)
* Best Supporting Actor (Sam Rockwell)
* Best Director (Adam McKay)
* Best Screenplay (Adam McKay)
Which is surely a road map for the upcoming Oscar nominations (Bale won best actor, FYI)
“VICE” at times is an unflattering portrait of a complicated man. From his early days as a New Mexico lineman with poor work ethics, drinking and brawling through his congressional intern program….all the way up the ladder to the election alongside of Bush.
Yes (practically) everything you have ever heard about Cheney is (probably) true.
A fascinating look inside the crusty world of Cheney’s history-changing role as the new vice president.
Amy Adams cast as Lynne Cheney once again proves her ever-evolving acting chops while Sam Rockwell playing George W. Bush very much succeeds in the portrayal.
Kudos also to Steve Carell as Donald Rumsfeld. And Tyler Perry, almost unrecognizable here as Colin Powell.
Numerous heart attacks and a transplant later “VICE” becomes much more than a mere satire or dark sketch comedy.
It is a provoking, sometimes tragic encounter in a sometimes dysfunctional and often flawed system—but one that probably works better than any other in this world we live in.
Hats off to McKay for bringing it to the screen and concluding it with a little “fourth wall” gem of a post screening movie focus group.
The discussion of the film’s merits among the participants definitely points fingers, and then some,,,,,,
And just in case you care, Brad Pitt and Will Ferrell co-produced the picture.
“VICE” grades a B+
(The film opened everywhere on December 25)
