Vice

While watching Adam Mckay's Vice, I recalled these two quotes:

                 "I do not fear the Dark Side as you do. I have brought peace, freedom, justice, 

                   and security to my new empire."

                 
                "Give yourself to the Dark Side. It's the only way you can save your friends."

No, Vice President Dick Cheney did not make those comments, at least as far as I know. The quotes are by Darth Vader, the fictional villain of Star Wars flicks.

Personally, I see a lotta similarities between the two.  

I'm more Star Trek than Star Wars. Still, I know debate exists within the Rebel Legion as to whether Vader was evil or simply a misunderstood anti-hero who did what he had to do. Likewise, Vice asks the audience: Was Dick Cheney lured to the dark side of The Force in order to realize his desire for power, or were his actions  genuine efforts to protect US citizens from terror?

McCay's Cheney is more Darth Vader than Anakin Skywalker. He seizes every opportunity to grab and wield power. And in true conspiracy-fueled story-telling, Vice depicts the VPOTUS as complicit in decades of social engineering that produced a more pro-business, climate-ruining, civil-rights-eradicating American society.

Is he a true believer? Is he grabbing power? It's impossible to say for sure. What the film makes obvious, though, is that Cheney and his wife Lynne are ruthless. They'll stop at nothing -- including hurting those they love most -- to achieve their goals.

Vice tells the Cheney story in a unique visual manner. It doesn't always work; some techniques are inspired, others seem too gimmicky. The strength of Vice rests squarely in the performances: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carell, and Sam Rockwell are brilliant as Dick and Lynne Cheney, Don Rumsfeld, and George W. Bush. 

Each is able to humanize their characters at various stages of the film. These aren't stereotypes: they are people, with real-life strengths, foibles, and failings. 

Vice likely won't bank much box office, as it's seen as a partisan attack on political conservatives. Red Staters gonna hate. That's too bad, really. The movie should be seen simply for the top-shelf performances. 

They're that good.