Political fare is the topic du jour on the big screen this week with the release of two new biopics: - "On the Basis of Sex" – the inspirational film about the life of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and "Vice", which offers an intense and sometimes comic look at the private life of Vice President Dick Cheney.
"Vice" looks back to a pivotal time in political history – the George W. Bush presidency - and Cheney’s role as the quiet, but powerful man behind Bush.
"Vice" was written and directed by Adam Mckay, a former head writer for SNL and the 2016 Oscar winner for best adaptive screenplay with “The Big Short,” another current event comedy/drama covering the housing bubble and the 2007 mortgage crisis.
McKay, is known for his unique storytelling, using narration and cut away metaphors to augment the performances of his actors. You might recall the memorable scene in "The Big Short" where McKay cut away from the narrative to actress Margot Robbie explaining subprime mortgages while immersed in a tub full of bubbles.
In "Vice", McKay peppers the film with several fly-fishing metaphors (a nod to Cheney’s home state of Wyoming) to illustrate the origins of Bush/Cheney ticket, and to tackle the heavy storyline of the aftermath of 9/11, the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and the creation of ISIS.
To balance the sidebars from them main story, McKay leans on the talented Jesse Plemons, for the role of the film’s narrator, Kurt, whom we soon discover has an unlikely connection to Cheney in the film.
The highlight of the film is the performance of the ensemble cast – led by Christian Bale as Cheney. Bale reportedly put on 40 pounds for the role and realistically portrays both the young Yale drop out and older and wiser Cheney. Already generating much Oscar buzz and a Golden Globe nomination for best actor, Bale steals the show as the quiet and calculating Cheney.
McKay again pairs Bale with Steve Carell – both were co-stars in "The Big Short." Carell gives an outstanding performance as Donald Rumsfeld, Cheney’s first political mentor and later colleague.
Amy Adams is cast as Lynne Cheney, the strong woman behind the quiet man, who shares an appetite for political power. In one memorable scene from the film, and another metaphor departure by McKay, Dick and Lynne plot their ascension to the US political throne in a bedroom scene that could have been easily lifted from Macbeth.
The cast is rounded out by equally convincing performances by Sam Rockwell as George W. Bush, The Newsroom’s Allison Pill as Mary Cheney, and a surprising turn by Tyler Perry as Colin Powell.
Rated R for language and some violent images, "Vice" runs a sometimes slow and distracting 132 minutes, but offers an interesting look at one - almost invisible – man’s impact on American history.
The KPCW Friday Film Review sponsored by Park City Film.
