A movie that walks the finest line between satire and reality, Vice portrays one man in our government in a way that you pray isn’t true but feels as if it is. Vice is an abridged story of the life of our former Vice-President Dick Cheney. Vice focuses on his political career with parts of his everyday life. Phenomenal acting and events not far from memory make Vice a very captivating movie. Whether or not the events played out the same as they did in the movie, Vice tells a political biography that strips off the gloss of public relations and tells a believably realistic story of power and positioning.

Dick Cheney has been removed from public eye long enough to be a faded memory of our recent political history. Mix that with a stellar performance from Christian Bale (Dick Cheney) and you get immersed in a behind the scenes tale of this man. Bale portrays Cheney with a scary accuracy. At times you can close your eyes and feel as if you are listening to stock footage from the early 2000’s. Physically he transformed himself and even mastered the mannerisms down to the sideways manner in which he spoke. Amy Adams (Lynne Cheney) plays Cheney’s wife in a very strong role that counters Bales’s performance perfectly. They truly enhance each others roles. Steve Carell (Donald Rumsfeld) plays another public figure that was associated heavily with the Bush/Cheney administration. His performance is another that really drives the movie forward and keeps the momentum of the movie going. Capped off with a good performance from Sam Rockwell (George W Bush), Vice flows through multiple decades and administrations of politics and humanizes people that the public often see only from their public relations perspectives. No matter your political affiliations, Vice’s performances alone are worth the trip to the theatre.

Vice should be taken with a grain of salt. Political bias that everyone has will either let you believe this is how it all really happened, or solidify your denial that this could ever be how it went down. There are moments in Vice that are undeniable and part of American history. Given what we do know we can assume there is a bit of truth and exaggeration scattered throughout the entire movie. Vice benefits from the politically short distance in time but long distance from memory. In that haze it makes Vice have a feeling of realism. Try not to get lost in fact checking and miss out on a movie with acting at the top of its class. Those interested in history, politics, or may have just lived through these moments will appreciate the effort put in by all to tell a captivating story of a man who undeniably influenced politics in this country. Go enjoy the performances in Vice and solidify the opinion of Cheney that you surely will walk in with.