What a Dick

Some of you may get a little excited by the film I’m reviewing today – it features both bush and dick. . . get your minds out of the gutter everyone, this is obviously a look at the 2018 Academy Award Best Picture nominee Vice, written and directed by comedic turned dramatic filmmaker, Adam McKay.

After reading the introduction describing the difficulties of making a film on one of the most secretive politicians in the history of the American political landscape – the one and only Dick Cheney (Christian Bale), the picture plays up its documentary style approach, jumping around more than a hyperactive kid playing hopscotch – from 9/11 to the distant past of 1963, only to bounce to 1969 – you get the idea.

The piece is narrated by a mysterious man named Kurt (Jesse Plemons), a plot device that will fascinate some and infuriate others. Taking us into the world of Dick Cheney, we meet all of the Republican players, including Cheney’s first mentor and longtime friend, Donald Rumsfeld (Steve Carell), Presidents Gerald Ford (Bill Camp) and George H. W. Bush (John Hillner), and then later, George W. Bush (Sam Rockwell), Colin Powell (Tyler Perry), and Condoleezza Rice (LisaGay Hamilton). . . and also Cheney’s family – his heavily involved wife Lynne (Amy Adams), and daughters Mary (Alison Pill) and Liz (Lily Rabe).

Instead of solely focussing on his time at the White House as Vice President, McKay gives a broader, greatest hits style approach to the viewer – some scenes ending abruptly (like the rest of the conversation was of little importance, was maybe unknown, or perhaps redacted), while others cut to jarring flashes of war, soldiers, torture, pop culture from the era, or other such things. One of the most powerful transitions finds President George W. Bush tapping his foot nervously as he addresses the nation over the Iraq War, only for us to then see another similar worried movement of a leg – that of a father hiding under a table along with his young family as a cavalcade of bombs drop from the sky (part of the same Iraq War).

At times effective, at others, less so, it has a similar style to his 2015 scattershot feature, The Big Short, excessively playful, sometimes to its own detriment. When it hits its sweet spot, it has a clever, cheeky, and satirical vibe – sometimes sharply ironic, sometimes just dark comedy (a moment where Cheney and his cohorts order from a posh waiter [a masterfully played cameo by Alfred Molina] – their selections: enhanced interrogation and other torture methods that they joyously order); at its most cringe worthy (Cheney and his wife discuss the Shakespearian quality of their life, only for them to quickly become a modern day Lord and Lady Macbeth in their cadence and word selection); and, somewhere in the middle (a jest that there are no asides in this world of secrets – like we would see in the works of The Bard or House of Cards – only to have Cheney look directly into the camera in the final moments, giving a monologue addressed directly to the audience).

Some of the problems lay within its one-sided liberal perspective, making it feel a tad too heavy-handed. . . a fake ending that looks like a Republican political commercial (claiming the man has left politics and is enjoying life with his family) feels a bit forced, while we know the angle they are portraying (whether it is accurate or not, it rarely makes for many character driven surprises).

Yet, despite some of these flaws, it is an intriguing and thought-provoking watch – each actor bringing their A game. It all centres on Bale, his transformation into the eight year Vice President exquisite (fascinating to watch as he transforms the no-power position into the opposite. . . and who knew a young Dick Cheney looked just like a very fit Christian Bale) – there is a reason he is considered one of the best actors today (the vernacular and mannerisms perfection). Carell (who is onscreen more than most in this one) captures the shoot-from-the-hip, politically incorrect Rumsfeld to a tee – the man’s ways slowly falling out of favour, while Rockwell plays Bush with an impressive subtlety (going not for over the top laughs, but rather, a subdued restraint that is unexpected from the energetic and often dancing actor – the longer you see him, the more you start to believe you are actually watching the real man) – both actors absolute scene stealers. Amy Adams is, as always, stellar – though her role could have been a bit more fleshed out. Also, Alison Pill must be mentioned – some of the greatest drama coming between her and her father (for those of you who do not know, Cheney’s daughter Mary is a lesbian – two hard hitting scenes come out of this).

A fascinating if flawed film, Vice will definitely have you thinking. Featuring superlative performances, a unique style, and controversial story, it will likely divide some and has already quasi-conquered (nominated for eight Oscars this 2019). So, have the heart to see this divisive motion picture, like Dick, you won’t regret it.