Flim Review - Vice

Perhaps the quietest voice of the rise of extreme right Washington politics was not even a true believer. When he turns up for his congressional internship in 1968 he chooses to go to work for Illinois congressman Donald Rumsfeld ( Steve Carell) because he's a plain speaker not because of party affiliation. Cheney (Christian Bale) had blazed a wild path that included getting kicked out of Yale for drinking and fighting, 2 DUI's and one too many jail bailouts for his fiancee Lynne (Amy Adams) who gave him an ulimatum to fly right or she was leaving. Cheney latches onto Rumsfeld who shows him the inside Washington game which the former quietly studies then perfects.

Director Adam McKay continues the storytelling style that he established in The Big Short celebrity cameo's are abound to keep the audience engaged during the exposition sections none better than Alfred Molina playing a waiter in a high end D.C. steakhouse laying out the strategy for Cheney and  and his cohorts to evisarate the rules of the capital in a post-2000 election dinner conversation. The subject matter has a similar How could we let this happen and not do anything element. The writing is sharp and witty dripping with large chunks of sarcasm and satire.

Christian Bale is unrecognizable as Dick Cheney. Bale nails the former Vice President's measured speaking pattern, head bob to emphasis points, love for sweets and laser -like striking ability when anyone challenges him or his interests. Steve Carell is comfortable as always in the sidekick role. Here as Donald Rumsfeld, he is the epotome of the old boys' network who wouldn't stand a chance in today's Me Too era. Amy Adams morphs into Lynne Cheney, a woman who could have been President herself but knowing her era realized that the best she could do would be to pick the right man to mold and push. Lynne singlehandledly turned around a failing Wyoming Senate bid for Cheney winning him his seat after the candidiate was sidelined following his first of many heart attacks, events that turn into a running gag in the film. Look for Jessie Plemons as Kirk who has a third act revealed relationship with Cheney serving as narrator for the piece. Sam Rockwell fresh off last years best -supporting actor win plays Dubya who appears to be President in name only, seeding a large swatch of his executive privileges to Cheney.

McKay lays out in broad strokes how Cheney and his inner circle Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz (Eddie Marsan) a Ford-era holdover, His chief of staff Sootter Libby (Justin Kirk) and his Lawyer David Addington (Don McManus) ran Washington. Cheney answered to no one. Addington along with a young Antonin Scalia argued for ultimate power worthy of a king. Since the VP has a role in the Executive along with the Legislative as President of the Senate he does not have to answer to either.
Along the way, the gang of 4 also managed to wipe out the fairness doctrine giving rise to partisan political television and Fox News. As Cheney states with a wink and a smirk to a returning from exile Rumsfeld we don't have to yell and shout because we have conservative commentators to do that for us.

**** Out of 4.

Vice | Adam McKay | U.S.A. | 132 Minutes | 2018.

Tags: American Politics, 9/11, Washington, Rupublican Party, Congress, Chief of Staff, Defense Secretary, Serial Hart Attacks, Iraq War, Big Oil, Fly Fishing,