Vice

Watching Adam McKay’s “Vice” was like watching a live re-enactment of a “The Daily” episode in the style of “House of Cards”, albeit at an arduous 132 minutes long. A pseudo-documentary style exploration of the man that is Dick Cheney, interspersed with “The Big Short”-like explanatory interludes and self-parodying farcical scenes. They were real laugh out loud gems, and together with some hilarious visual puns and smart witty writing, those moments made up the best, funniest and most irreverent bits of the film. However, as a movie it lacked a central narrative drive or emotional conflicts, two elements that made “The Big Short” - also regarding a difficult subject - such a success, that connect the audience to the story. What resulted was an ambitious, liberal-leaning film, based - supposedly - on facts that lacked focus and cinematic purpose (sure, it had political or educational purpose, but it ain’t marketed, or produced, as a doc). Nonetheless, what stood out for it was the terrific acting performances by Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Sam Rockwell. Bale and Adams are on track for nominations for a Best Actor and Supporting Actress respectively, with Rockwell a close possibility for Supporting Actor. Bale, like Gary Oldman the year before, has a physically transformative role in which he lost himself totally within and embodied that character. Although “Vice” was certainly less gripping and entertaining than “Darkest Hour”, so for that he might lose out to Bradley Cooper for the popular - but artistically less demanding - “A Star is Born”. With Adams, on any other year, she would have a good chance, but unfortunately this looks like another happy-to-be-nominated year for her, what with the two strong performances by Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz for “The Favourite”. As for Rockwell, it is too early to tell. “Vice” is unlikely to go as far as “The Big Short”, but its excellent cast should get nominated, and maybe the left-leaning Hollywood will give it credit for editing, and McKay for writing and directing. And do stay for a hilarious mid-credits scene!