Close to the "real" Cheney

Jovanny 2021-12-02 08:01:26

After the great success of the 2017 film "Big Short", the screenwriter and director Adam McKay continued his efforts and devoted himself to the film project about Dick Cheney (one of the most powerful vice presidents), "Vice President" . He never thought about making this film a completely rigidly in line with the facts, and even completely in line with the facts and theoretically impossible tasks. The director rummaged through all the books about Cheney he could find on the market, and found that some reporters had obtained materials that were not recorded. The director interprets Cheney in his unique way, just to get closer to the truth.

Compared with "Big Short", the director used more dazzling film techniques to jump in and out of the film. For example, near the middle of the film, he asked Cheney to choose to return to his family and train the dog to fish, and then he continued with the ending subtitles. Then Cheney received a call from Bush Jr. before he returned to real politics and resumed his usual business. In another example, shortly after the ending subtitles were pulled up, the film was interrupted by an interest group of film critics. Everyone gathered to talk about the film, talk about politics, talk about "Vice President" itself, and talk about the new episode "Speed ​​and Passion" that was about to be released. . The director used these meta-movies to jump in and out to achieve this film, which is ingenious and aroused a lot of thinking.

Just like movies, the film techniques it originally developed hoped to keep the audience deep and quiet in the atmosphere created by the director. So we rarely see actors looking directly into the camera, that is, the audience outside the screen. Because it will suddenly let the audience perceive themselves from the dream of the movie, and thus escape. And the usual movie methods will not consciously play with subtitles, play with the opening and ending credits, play with the repercussions of the movie after it is broadcast, and play with the reputation of the movie itself. Therefore, this biopic may be more willing to classify it as an extremely stylized documentary, because in addition to black humor, it is close to reality, and thinking about reality is what the director wants to express.

In terms of casting, the director unexpectedly invited Christian Bale, who had collaborated in "Big Short", to gain weight and play Cheney. I think that on the one hand, the director is cruel, making Uncle Bei blow his body again; on the other hand, Bell has the opportunity to compete for Oscar. Sam Rockwell, the star of George W. Bush, won the best supporting actor with "Three Billboards" last year. This year, his George W. Bush also performed a funny politically green, and the green leaves set off Cheney's cunning.

I wish Uncle Pei have good results at the Oscars, and less tossing his body!

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Extended Reading
  • Edgardo 2022-04-21 09:02:03

    The editing is a step further than The Big Short, but it's still the same idea - using film to explain abstract concepts. I used a little picture, but I still use lines and subtitles to speak. Fuhua Dao is particularly good, and Iron Maiden is also at this level.

  • Marietta 2022-04-23 07:02:00

    Personal perception is not as good as "The Big Short". The frequent insertion of recorded images makes no scene feel smooth and smooth. However, there are some visual metaphors of parallel editing that I like, such as the part where the wisher takes the bait and Cheney seduces Bush Jr.

Vice quotes

  • Paul Wolfowitz: Who wants to be an anonymous source?

    Douglas Feith: Make sure you work in the phrase, "We don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud." That focus-grouped through the roof.

  • Colin Powell: [storming towards his Chief of Staff] Larry, have you seen this speech?

    Lawrence Wilkerson: Yes, sir. It's bone-thin. I saw at least five pieces of disproved intel in there.

    Colin Powell: Who wrote it?

    Lawrence Wilkerson: They said it was the president, but I think you can guess who really wrote it.