Vice : Movie Review


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.

Vice (2018) - Movie PosterAdam 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

Author : Kevin Stanley