Review: Vice
Perhaps one of the most difficult, and sometimes necessary, processes in the creation of a memorable villain is to humanize them. This is especially true when the villain is also the protagonist. This is the challenge that director and writer Adam McKay is faced with in Vice. The film is clearly, and admittedly from McKay’s own mouth, told from a liberal perspective. However, if anyone would be up to the task of humanizing the ultimate representation of evil from the viewpoint of the left, it would be McKay, given the performance and structure of the Academy Award winning film, The Big Short. The critical success of that film is likely the reason that Vice was given the green light and attracted such a star-studded cast.
Speaking of that cast, there is honestly not a fault to be found. Much publicity has been given to the title role of Vice President Dick Cheney (Christian Bale), and for good reason. As he is wont to do, Bale absolutely dives into this role and is unrecognizable, and not just due to weight gain and tremendous makeup work. But, as easy as it is to focus on Cheney, Vice is not simply a star vehicle for Bale. The engine that powers both the film and Dick Cheney’s movements is perennial star and standout Amy Adams as Lynne Cheney. Adams’s relatively stoic performance helps us find the heart of Dick Cheney, even if we have no interest in seeing it.
Vice also boasts appearances from well-known American figures Donald Rumsfeld (Steve Carell), George W. Bush (Sam Rockwell), and Mary Cheney (Alison Pill), among many others. Given the recency and the publicity of these events, it is shocking that absolutely every actor is up to the challenge of capturing this moment in time. One actor that may not receive as much acclaim, given his lack of screen time, is Tyler Perry as Colin Powell. Although he is more known for his less than stellar directorial career (critically speaking), Perry has turned in some impressive supporting performances. Here, he is able to seemingly, effortlessly master a role with a complete arc in just two or three scenes. Despite his connection with our protagonist villain, there is still room for empathy from the audience due to some subtle work from Perry.
But of course, Vice is McKay’s baby. And because of his recent success, you can feel his supreme confidence. Although this may seem like praise, this confidence results in both highs and lows. McKay uses some of the same educational tricks that he employed flawlessly in his previous film. In Vice, it works about half the time, and is tedious for the remainder. McKay also chooses an interesting narrator (Jesse Plemons), and uses him to great effect for the majority of the film. Unlike his previous work, some of his history of working in comedy is on display. Although these moments are enjoyable, it does throw the tone of the film off from time to time.
McKay is able to make Cheney a human being, for which he should be congratulated. But, he never lets us forget the terrifying figure of Cheney. He accomplishes this by repeatedly having Bale loom in the background mostly in shadow, making him vaguely reminiscent of a movie monster. Given the director’s liberal bent, it must have been a fantastic challenge to delve into the life of a man who he sees as an unrepentant villain. This is not necessarily a film that will change anyone’s political views, but McKay still does attempt to paint a complete picture and certainly does not let some of the more famous Democratic leaders off with a free pass.
McKay warns us to fear the quiet man, because we do not know when he will strike. He, along with Bale, gives us a version of Dick Cheney who is a chameleon, ready to change at will to fit the situation. McKay seems to have a begrudging respect for this man who was always ten steps ahead, even if he used his intelligence to only further himself and his family, and did not seem to care how many other people suffered and died. He paints the picture of a man, pushed by his wife towards ultimate power. McKay also is not shy about showing us the cost of that power, both personally and as a society.
Vice is by no means a perfect film, but given all of its moving parts and difficult subject matter, it is still an impressive achievement from McKay and his stellar cast. Given the current political climate, there is a great deal to appreciate from the structure and messages of the film. Vice enables us to take an uncomfortably close look at the men and women who have a ridiculous amount of control over our lives currently, and also at how that power permeates our past, present, and future.
