Last week I saw a trailer to the movie Vice and just had to see it. Not only was it directed by the same person as another personal favorite, The Big Short, but it also starred an actor I am currently in love with, Steve Carell. It also seemed to bring a lot of laughs to a subject matter that lately just brings anger and frustration to people: politics. A few days later I got to see the film.
The film is about the life of Dick Cheney, played by Christian Bale, from his college drop-out years to present day. In the first ten minutes of the film, the audience could tell that Bale and his co-star Amy Adams (Lynn Cheney) were going to nail their performances of the infamous Cheney's. Their chemistry throughout the film was not only captivating, but held a sense of truth. Although it is hard to tell how truthful it really was since the Cheney's were so secretive, it still got the point it needed to across and entertained the audience.
I would be lying if I said I was totally pleased with the film. My main problem with the film was how it was advertised, which was a dark comedy. There were, at times, very funny moments in the film. Anytime the character Donald Rumsfeld, played by comedy legend Steve Carell, would open his mouth the audience would have to giggle at the insanity of what he was saying. And even the ever so serious Bale got a couple laughs with his performance as Dick, especially when talking to renowned word scrambler George W. Bush, played by Sam Rockwell. But by the end, I didn't get the sense that the funny bits of the movie was enough to label it as a dark comedy. Like any good drama, it had laughs. When it got really serious (almost terrifying at points), it made time for comedy so the audience wasn't too tense and could still enjoy it.
If you're looking for only laughs, I wouldn't suggest seeing this film. If you're looking for some really good acting, this film should interest you. If you're looking for a good drama, and performances that shine, and something that will make you both terrified and giggle, Vice is the perfect option.
Although it didn't feel like a straight up dark comedy, I have to give this movie a GOOD/GOOD.
Strong review of the film here, Henry! Your paragraphs are precise and have deliberate focus. Great sense of voice as you negotiate the expectations/realities of the film. Strong evaluation of acting performances and the use of comedy. Would have liked to see some more thematic evaluation, but you KNOW I think the title is brilliant!
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