Allan Watched "Vice"
Somewhere between a biopic and a supervillain origin story, Vice is at its best when it is a driving story about absolute power, but the blurred line between being a timeline of an actual person’s life and a cartoonish cathartic expression kills its momentum and leaves this film hard to hold in your hands.
Gut Feeling
Listen, my very first reaction walking out was that I was entertained throughout and enjoyed almost all of it. So if I had walked into the theater not knowing this was the most nominated movie so far this award season, I may have not been as disappointed, because Vice is more good than bad. The acting is extraordinary, the emotion is palpable, and the message is laser sharp. But what I found myself doing at some of the more bizarre parts of Adam McKay’s followup to the brilliant The Big Short was mental gymnastics, focusing on what was true, what was comedy, and what was necessary, and the lack of focus made Vice harder to embrace.
McKay’s Crew Rises to the Occasion
If you gave anyone two guesses at the cast for a biopic of Dick Cheney made by Adam McKay, you likely could have nailed the entire group. It is his reliable crew, and it’s a good thing he went with them because Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carell, and Sam Rockwell saved this movie. Bale is amazing and unrecognizable as the Cheney we know. He nails the quiet intensity, and does not take Cheney down a purely evil path that the writing allowed. It cannot be overlooked that this character was not written with love, but instead as a vehicle to vent on a man who influenced a generation. But there are times Bale makes Cheney a stoic family hero, overcoming early struggles to make his wife proud, and in all Bale turns in a performance that has to make him a front runner for every leading male award this winter.
Adams unsurprisingly holds her own, much like the real life Lynne Cheney, on her way to a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Adams gives the most dynamic role of the film, matching Bale’s intensity in the most serious moments, delivering a few laughs when given the opportunity, and overall being a charismatic and energetic foil to her calm onscreen husband.
Rockwell received the Golden Globe nomination for Best supporting Actor after doing what is basically a really great George W. Bush impression. It may not be fair to water down his performance so much since GWB is one of the most parodied people of the last 20 years, but nothing about it really blows you away. It is extremely entertaining, but Carell’s performance outshined Rockwell and every time he left the screen it was a disappointment.
McKay Unleashed
Let’s not beat around the bush: this was a cathartic experience for McKay. The difference between The Big Short and Vice is that McKay’s first full step away from straight comedies was a documentary coming to life full of information against an enemy that was agreed upon and fully understood. I am not going to pretend that I love Dick Cheney and don’t share similar views to McKay, but every time there was a side step of the linear biography of Cheney and a perceived shot is taken, it forces you to recalibrate your focus. I think it is part of why some of the overt comedic swings felt out of place, because despite everything above, McKay does write a script that is mostly enticing and accurate. If he reeled it in just the slightest bit, Vice ma have been a home run.
Random Thoughts
The most frustrating part of this movie is how the blatant jokes don’t work for the most part. There is a ridiculous choice in the middle that had me cracking up, though, and it is the hardest laugh of the film.
The minor roles are really brilliant. Allison Pill and Lily Rabe are excellent as the Cheney daughters, Tyler Perry is a surprisingly great Colin Powell, and everyone’s favorite uncle Justin Kirk shines the brightest as convicted criminal and former Cheney adviser Scooter Libby.
Jesse Plemons is low-key great as the narrator. I think I can finally separate him from Friday Night Lights…maybe.
I’m pretty skittish in movie theaters, and the couple next to me did laugh at my reaction to the Us trailer, so maybe I’m over reacting, but the loud bursts of sound felt over used and over the top. I get the juxtaposition of the war images and sounds to the calm decisions by politicians that impact the world, but it just felt like a little much.
Not a good movie for title drops. They say the word “vice” a lot, obvs, but I feel like they didn’t mean it as a title drop.
The only potential misinformation that really bugs me in Vice is the death of Lynne Cheney’s mother. It is a tough plot point to swallow if it is not true, and it frankly has no bearing on the movie as a whole.
Quick Hits:
How many times have I seen this movie?
First time!
Where was I watching it?
Theater. Popcorn. Diet Root Beer. A tame crowd, minus a college kid in my row talking through the first preview until the woman next to me laid a “Would you mind?” on him and he shut is pie hole. She was the true hero of the film.
Favorite Trivia About The Movie
Brad Pitt was a producer. That is the only interesting note I can find.
Favorite part
The big joke half way through had me bent over laughing.
Least favorite part
The other notable big joke attempt of the film was too long and a miss.
Would I recommend this movie?
I mean, it is entertaining, but if you are expecting to walk into the theater and see one of the best movies of 2018, you may be disappointed. The acting makes it worth it, overall, so I think it is worth your time and money.
So What Does Allan Give It?
One gold thumbs up. Overall, a score of 70. The acting is some of the best of the year, but its lack of focus keeps this entertaining film from being truly great. Of the six Golden Globe nominations, look out for Adams and Bale to take home hardware.
