Vice

Reckless men of power and intellectually lazy voters - the razor-sharp biopic "Vice" deals with a very bad mix. The pivotal point is the almost unbelievable career of Richard "Dick" Cheney, who went from Washington insider and corporate CEO to vice president under George W. Bush - and played a key role in influencing numerous fatal government decisions for eight years (2001-2009). Dick Cheney is unmistakably portrayed as a shark politician who used even his closest colleagues as puppets, and who is nevertheless taken seriously as the main character by this film. In contrast to the power manifestation of an unscrupulous careerist, Cheney is shown as a husband and loving father, which makes the brutality of his politics stand out all the more. This portrait is supported by the transformational skills of actor Christian Bale, who not only symbolically "embodies" Cheney with the help of meticulous make-up work and his notorious willingness to flex his body weight, but also lends his personality an impressive wealth of nuances. Director and screenwriter Adam McKay ("Don't look up!") dares to adress the viewers. Last but not least, "Vice" is also a warning against falling for political agitators who have nothing to offer apart from simple enemy stereotypes and knee-jerk solutions. A message that is more relevant and important than ever in view of the global rise of populists. „With "Vice", McKay now switches from a sophisticated ensemble piece to an epic biopic; with its fast pace, investigative gestures and unorthodox mix of drama and comedy, the film is strongly reminiscent of "The Big Short". McKay's directing style is wonderfully innovative.“ (Frank Schnelle, auf: epd.de)