Vice

“Nominated for 8 Academy Awards including Best Picture, VICE stars CHRISTIAN BALE in an Oscar Nominated role as Dick Cheney in this epic tale of how a bureaucratic Washington insider quietly became the most powerful man in the world. Co-starring AMY ADAMS, STEVE CARELL, and SAM ROCKWELL, VICE is a darkly comic look behind the scenes of American politics.”

Adam McKay has a long resume of comedy films and has shifted gears completely in the last few years in both his subject matter and directing style. The Big Short in particular, demonstrated how versatile a storyteller he actually is, able to make difficult subject matter more accessible to audiences. Vice follows that same structure, telling an otherwise possibly dull political story and giving it a certain edge that makes it entertaining and entirely frightening. As the film follows much of the life of Dick Cheney, focusing primarily on his political career and later his role in the Bush administration, it paints a dark picture about just how much power he actually had and the ways he was able to interpret and manipulate laws to work in his favor.

Vice can’t be taken at face value in all aspects. There are of course fictional sections and conversations McKay can only guess of the contents and intentions, and he makes this clear in the narration of the film, which is brilliantly done through the perspective of an average American, who just happens to have a special connection with Dick Cheney, a metaphor in itself and a key theme in the film. As much as the film strives to shine a light on shady practices of a very secretive individual, it has some fun while doing it. As a dark comedy we’re subjected to much more than a pure political info piece, with some interesting sequences such as the Shakespearean conversation between Dick Cheney and his wife, members of Cheney’s inner circle ordering stretched interpretations of the law on a menu in a restaurant, and the breaking of the fourth wall in a brilliant monologue by Christian Bale that makes you question whether all this was necessary. As easy as it is to draw political lines these days, I never felt the film was all-out bashing Republicans. It does highlight some very interesting facts in a satirical way that the hard-headed may claim to be ‘fake news’. Of course it focuses more on how Cheney was able to manipulate the laws based on unitary executive theory, and less on any positive moments of the Bush presidency, but that’s what the film was intended to do, shine a light on information not readily known to the public. Political preferences aside, Vice does its job extremely well, informing and entertaining along the way.

A film about Dick Cheney would go nowhere without someone who is able to perfectly capture his nuances, body language and overall look. Christian Bale’s transformation may be one of my favorites of any role I’ve seen, who I’m now convinced is able to take on the essence of anyone. As impressive as his extreme weight loss was in The Machinist, he’s able to embody Dick Cheney so well, it’s a feat that just has to be seen to be believed. The supporting cast has its moments, but no one can hold a candle to what Bale brings to the film, and that ends up overshadowing everything else in my opinion. Amy Adams does an excellent job herself as his wife, holding her own in each scene and delivering a great performance in several sequences. Sam Rockwell is one of my favorites, and even he is vastly outshined by Bale’s stunning transformation and performance as his VP.

It’s unfortunate that people have such a hard time putting their political differences aside, especially when it comes to the enjoyment of a film filled with great performances. However, if you can look at this for exactly what it is: the exploration of one man’s rise to power, you’ll find both entertainment in Vice.

Video

Vice is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 2.39:1. The transfer looks pristine, with no issues noted. Colors are well-balanced with grain kept at a manageable level. The overall look is rather drab and dark, with a noticeable lack of color, a testament in itself at just how cold and calculated the world portrayed in this film actually is.

Audio

The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Most of the audio is coming through the center channel in the form of dialogue with the surrounds utilized for the soundtrack. The track sounds great, with clear and concise dialogue audio, even under the mumbling of Cheney’s lines.

Special Features

There is a great set of extras on this disc, with interviews from the filmmakers and actors, even Christian Bale giving his insights on his transformation.

• Deleted Scenes
• Gaming the System: The Making of Vice
• The Music of Power
• Gallery

Regardless of your political views, Vice should scare the hell out of you. It highlights some dangerous views on political power and how to yield it, walking the fine line on what’s right to do, especially during war-time. A tale of greed, power, heart turning to heartlessness, Vice is entertaining through and through.