"Vice": A Total Hit Job

Christian Bale as Dick Cheney


Last night, my wife and I went to see the movie, "Vice", which is based on the life and political career of former Vice President Dick Cheney (portrayed by Christian Bale). I knew from the trailers that this was nothing but a hit job on Cheney, but after some hesitation, I decided that I should see the movie.

I was not surprised that it was a hit job, but I was surprised that it could be so bad. I have seen Hollywood B-movies that portrayed Hitler, Goebbels and Goering et al in a more sympathetic light than this movie treated Cheney and virtually everybody around him. Donald Rumsfeld, Scooter Libby, George W Bush and even Antonin Scalia were portrayed as just a bunch of scheming clowns. Cheney's wife, Lynne is also portrayed as a cold, calculating woman. Even the folks of Wyoming are portrayed as a bunch of rubes. Much of the movie includes humor and is "narrated" by some mysterious average Joe who winds up being the donor for Cheney's heart transplant when he is struck and killed by a car as Cheney lay near death. That whole event (Cheney getting a transplant) is portrayed as being a real bummer.

In virtually every aspect of Cheney's life, he is portrayed as a schemer and climber. The only positive trait Cheney exhibits in the movie is his understanding and support of his daughter who comes out as gay.

Interestingly, the movie skips over Cheney's time as secretary of defense during the first Bush administration and during the war to liberate Kuwait from Iraq.

Among the aspects of the film I find so questionable is the recreation of so many one on one conversations Cheney had with others, like Rumsfeld. Where did they get that information? Are we to believe that either man revealed those conversations, exact quotes along with the appropriate facial expressions and mannerisms that the film portrayed? Not likely.

Indeed, the film opened with a statement in writing ( I am paraphrasing) that the film was based on facts-or as close to the facts as possible because Cheney was one of the most secretive leaders ever.

"But we f---ing tried."

I hear this movie is being considered for an Oscar as best picture. I will predict it wins, not because of the quality of the film, but because it represents Hollywood's warped values. Every administration, Democrat or Republican, has its shares of schemers and climbers. The administrations of Obama and Clinton were also full of them (most notably Bill Clinton's wife). But you won't see Hollywood doing a hit piece on their administrations.

So Hollywood got my 8 bucks to see this dog. Hopefully, by writing it up, they won't get yours.