Vice Review
R: Language and some violent images
Annapurna Pictures, Gary Sanchez Productions
2 Hrs and 12 Minutes
Dir/Writer: Adam McKay
Cast: Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Amy Adams, Sam Rockwell, Tyler Perry, Bill Pullman
Release Date: December 25th 2018
The story of Dick Cheney (Christian Bale), an unassuming bureaucratic Washington insider, who quietly wielded immense power as Vice President to George W. Bush, reshaping the country and the globe in ways that we still feel today.
Ever since “The Big Short” back in the 2015, writer/director Adam McKay has been on an onslaught to aim his middle finger at the different departments of America. McKay has been the filmmaker equivalent of the guy who goes:
YOU KNOW WHAT GRINDS MY GEARS?!
But if I am honest, I lowkey love when filmmakers become unapologetically ruthless with their films, especially if it’s targeted at a subject matter that is relevant while taking a stance. While we follow the story of Cheney’s path to power, you see the not-so-subtle commentary of Adam McKay slowly raising a middle finger to Republicans. McKay’s previous film was a huge finger to the financial industry, and now this is his huge foam finger to American politics by presenting this story of someone who is one of the contributing factors. You’ll find yourself wondering, “Okay, is it a bit of a stretch to use Cheney and his family as the forefront of modern politics?” and as the film progresses, you’ll find that the answer is “NO!”
The film will definitely ruffle some feathers of right wing viewers and, through McKay’s boldness, he openly says “fuck you” to them too. Like “The Big Short”, this is a huge “come at me bro” of a movie and, while it does reiterate things that you know if you’re an older viewer, as a young millennial not only is it enlightening, but rightfully angering. Unlike an earlier released political drama, “The Front Runner”, McKay displays all of the facets of these characters and renders them as genuine people while depicting their destructively monstrous flaws that ended up putting our country in the state we are in now.
The film plays like an I.D channel reenactment of a celebrity profile, but McKay’s style infused throughout and the frequent uses of cutaways make the audience aware of what’s at stake as a result of the decisions Cheney and his fellow politicians make through their conversation. Whether it is to deliver a humorous (and sometimes cheap) gag or to display how fucking despicable these politicians are, part of the technique works.
The entire ensemble that McKay assembles is incredible as they are in their A-list game. With Adams and Bale leading the charge more effectively than they did in “American Hustle” five years ago, they deliver performances in a whirlwind of power, both individually and with an incredible amount of chemistry. Each moment that Adams spends on screen is captivating and she once again steals the show with her portrayal of Lynne. And of course, Christian Bale who doesn’t only get the physical look of Cheney down, but also the voice and movements. His deep dialect and his little mannerisms are distinctively and eerily similar to Cheney’s. It’s both frightening and mesmerizing to see this complete transformation Bale has done and he gives it his all. There are parts where you’re so lost in the performances of Bale and Adams that you feel like you’re watching the real Cheney’s and their path to power.
Adam McKay models both comedy, drama, and horror with subliminal visuals throughout. While at first it may seem a bit gimmicky in the same vein as propaganda commercials are, he incorporates it with a powerful effect. While he’s become a more serious filmmaker now, he still incorporates an abundant amount of inventive humor throughout.
You know how SNL would parody George W. Bush/politics and make them outlandish and cartoonish? Hell, you know how often everyone depicts Bush as a cartoon character? Well, that’s Sam Rockwell’s performance as George W. Bush which is an amalgamation of every animated depiction of him to date. While we know he wasn’t the smartest Commander in Chief, it is rather off-putting to have Rockwell’s portrayal of Bush be a caricature amongst every other actor who is taking their assigned role seriously.
Many will not be fond of the movie because of its filmmaking style and lack of cohesiveness as a narrative, from the third-party narrator to its overuse of stock footage, but as a Gen-Z person who isn’t that knowledgeable on the subject matter, I really appreciate the effort. For older audiences who got to live through these events longer than I did and are completely aware of it, more power to you. It’s completely understandable why many won’t like this even if they’re a liberal. Shit, I’ll admit, it’s mostly propaganda, but at the same time (and as mentioned earlier) McKay is ruthless and sometimes I love that shit.
“Vice” is made to completely ruffle some feathers as McKay takes no prisoners in his political comedy, but due to his style and an incredible ensemble, this makes for an entertaining time.
Rating: 3.5/5 | 76%
Super Scene: The Credits
