Review: Vice

Darkly amusing biopic about the former vice-president of the US, Dick Cheney.  Bale's pulls off yet another astonishing, but surely unhealthy, physical transformation in a part where he manages to completely convince as the puppet master behind the W. Bush presidency.  Adams is also excellent as the encourager behind the throne.  Also of note, are Carell and Rockwell as Rumsfeld and W. Bush

The film itself has a number of directorial and narrative quirks as it flip flops between voices, points of view, flashbacks, breaks the fourth wall and even plays with false endings.  I didn't dislike these - but occasionally it did feel like the director was throwing everything the wall to see what sticks. Or perhaps they were simply trying to confuse with feints and red herrings much in the same manner as the Cheney operating system.

There's almost no light to this portrayal and I doubt it'll change anyone's minds about Cheney's politics or methods.  As someone with an interest, but little knowledge of behind the scenes during the Bush era, I found it illuminating.

Verdict: Fascinating takedown of an unsympathetic character.