Title: Vice
Starring: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Sam Rockwell, Steve Carrell
DVD / BD Release Date: 3rd June 2019
EST Release Date: 25th May 2019
Cert: 15
Running time: 127 minutes
From the multi-award-winning director of The Big Short (2015) and Step Brothers (2008), Vice is Adam McKay's much celebrated and latest, biographical comedy-drama. A caustic account of the squalid rise to power of George W. Bush's right-hand man Dick Cheney,
Vice follows the story of how Dick Cheney rose to the position of Vice-President to George W. Bush, and how in a role that was usually considered to be a toothless position, he actually had a large part to play in reshaping the USA and having a serious say in global issues - mostly because Bush had no idea what he was doing.
Adam McKay has recently moved from broad comedy to more serious films (see The Big Short) and with Vice he’s created a very entertaining biopic featuring some fantastic performances – notably from Bale who is brilliant as the former vice-president Dick Cheney and Sam Rockwell as George Bush Jr.
Alison Pill may only get a few scenes as Cheney beloved daughter Mary but when she comes out as a gay woman and same-sex marriage campaigner we all instantly expect Cheney to disown her. To his credit he sticks by her. Steve Carrell also pops up a few times as Donald Rumsfeld. Amy Adams also plays Cheney’s tough-as-nails wife Lynne and she performs faultlessly as usual.
Bale’s ability to play the role deadpan is great, especially when as Cheney he suffers several heart attacks – casually announcing that he’s having a heart attack and needs to go to hospital as if it’s a mild illness as opposed to being imminently life threatening.
Vice is a black comedy, full of fourth-wall breaks and an inspired voiceover/narrator which I won’t spoil for you here. The dialogue is sharp and witty and there is a fantasy scene in which Cheney and his Lynne switch into Shakespearean dialogue which is excellent. Another fantasy scene that is simply brilliant is a mid-film fade out to the credits which suggests a very different ending for Cheney. It’s inspired writing and skilfully done.
Loved by audiences, Vice landed to widespread critical acclaim and deserved awards buzz. Nominated for six Golden Globes - the most nominations of any film last year - Christian Bale took home the prestigious Best Actor accolade for his deft performance in the serio-comic biopic. Winning Best Hair and Make-up and Hairstyling (Greg Cannom, Kate Biscoe, Patricia Dehaney) at the Academy Awards,Vice was also nominated for Best Performance by and Actress in a Supporting Role (Amy Adams), Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Christian Bale), Best Motion Picture of the Year (Adam McKay), Best Achievement in Directing (Adam McKay), Best Original Screenplay and Best Achievement in Film Editing. Vice also won a BAFTA award for Best Editing (Hank Corwin) and was nominated for five further BAFTA awards.
Vice is a funny and gripping film featuring an amazing cast of actors at the top of their profession.
DVD & Blu-ray Special Features:
· The Music of Power
· Deleted Scenes
· Photo Gallery
· Gaming the System: The Making of VICE (iTunes exclusive)
DVD & Blu-ray
· The Music of Power
· Deleted Scenes
· Photo Gallery