MOVIE REVIEW: VICE

Gov. George W. Bush of Texas picks Dick Cheney, the CEO of Halliburton Co., to be his Republican running mate in the 2000 presidential election. No stranger to politics, Cheney's impressive résumé includes stints as White House chief of staff, House Minority Whip and defense secretary. When Bush wins by a narrow margin, Cheney begins to use his newfound power to help reshape the country and the world.

Director: Adam McKay

Cast: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell, Jesse Plemons

Release Date: December 25, 2018

Genres: Biography, Comedy, Drama

Rated R for language and some violent images

Runtime: 2h 12 min

Review:

Vice is an interesting movie to experience.  At its base it’s about a Washington power player who ascends to the highest levels of office and enacting some of worst portions of the Bush presidency.  Vice, though, isn’t interested in a straightforward approach.  Instead Adam McKay opts for something a bit more comedic and much more meta.  As such, the film is  entertaining because of how the story is told even while rooting around in some of the darker parts of the last 10 years.  In addition to McKay’s style, the cast is all stellar with each of them disappearing into their respective roles.  Christian Bale leads the film with one of his body transformations.  But outside of the drastic body transformation, Bale simply dissolves into Dick Cheney utterly inhabiting his skin. It’s the type of performance that’s a shoe in for an Oscar nod.  Amy Adams, in a quieter and less showy role, is equally impressive as Cheney’s Lady MacBeth Lynn Cheney.  The supporting roles are peppered with familiar faces like Sam Rockwell and Steve Carrell all of whom turn in quality performances that make the film all the better.  Ultimately, your enjoyment of the film maybe tempered by your political stance since the film isn’t necessary going to win many approving nods from one side of the isle.  If the film has a major fault it’s that even with all the excellent performances, we are kept at arms length from the characters themselves.  We never get a real sense of who these people are or what truly motivates them.  We see their actions but never truly know why they do what they do and perhaps that’s McKay’s point.

B+

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of Vice & Mary Poppins Returns

Dearest Blog: Yesterday I made my last trip of 2018 to Marquee Cinemas for a final holiday catch-up double-header.

On the docket: Vice and Mary Poppins Returns. Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

First up: Vice. A look at the personal life and political rise of former Vice-President Dick Cheney.

Vice is a tough film to get through, but I need to call out the positives, because the movie's difficulties do not lie with the quality of the filmmaking. Vice's primary draw is the caliber of its cast. Much has been made of Christian Bale's physical transformation for this role, but frankly we've seen enough of that from Bale in the past that it loses a bit of its impact. More impressive is the ability of such familiar actors to disappear so thoroughly into equally-well-known political figures. Hair and makeup offer valuable assists, but it's the performers' skills that convince our eyes we're looking at George Bush when we can see Sam Rockwell's face. Amy Adams gives a particularly terrific turn as Cheney's wife Lynne, but, again, it's something Adams does so often that it's easy to take it for granted. Actual news footage is cut with the film to illustrate the impact of Cheney's influence and decisions. Flashbacks--not generally a favorite of mine--are smartly used to emphasize the ex-Veep's path to power. Vice is a very clever, very, very well-done movie...and I would never, ever watch it again. I actually walked out in the middle to got some popcorn, because I was so uncomfortable I couldn't stand it. (Spoiler alert: I didn't even want popcorn.) News footage of atrocities both against and by the United States is impossible to watch without feeling sick. Behind-the-scenes machinations are appalling, even if only half are true. Vice is, quite simply, a sobering tale of the worst of us.

Vice clocks in at 132 minutes and is rated R for "language and some violent images."

Vice is a very good movie about some very bad people; it's exhausting but imperative viewing.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Vice gets seven and a half. Fangirl points: Justin Kirk! And...it's awards season so you know what that means: Shea Whigham all 'round!!

Next on my agenda, a welcome change of mood with Mary Poppins Returns.

The Banks family again finds itself in need of a magical nanny's particular talents. Mary Poppins Returns is one of those movies that probably works as well as it does thanks to being released into the warm and fuzzy holiday season. That's not to say it isn't a good movie--I think it is--but its success will definitely be aided and abetted by Christmas cheer and maybe some spiked eggnog. There's an all-new soundtrack to enjoy, but familiar musical cues never miss an opportunity to remind the viewer: You already love this! I, personally, found the songs a bit La La Land-blah, but the production of the musical numbers is extraordinary and the choreography is exquisite. Emily Blunt is a delight as Mary Poppins, a role she seems to have been born to play. Lin-Manuel Miranda infuses every second of his screen time with a joy that runs through him like his very blood, and Ben Whishaw does his usual superb work as a grown-up Michael Banks. Kid actors can be a crapshoot, but Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh, and Joel Dawson aren't too annoying. In supporting roles, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, and Meryl Streep are great if underused, though Streep still manages to steal the show. Mary Poppins returns is filled with striking scenery, beautiful costumes, and eye-popping colors, and it sticks firmly to its old-school musical roots. While there's no mistaking the movie's overall good vibe, it also stresses the importance of each of us--young and old--doing what we can to bring our own positivity to every situation.

Mary Poppins Returns runs 130 minutes and is rated PG for "some mild thematic elements and brief action."

Mary Poppins Returns is a breezy bit of holiday cheer that should be a staple for years to come.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Mary Poppins Returns gets eight.

Fangirl points: Well, not naming names, but as soon as I heard the Coachman's voice, I kept waiting for him to say, "Have you tried turning it off and back on again?"

So...it's almost 2019, when am I getting a Cats trailer??