| Director Adam McKay’s follow up to The Big Short, almost feels like a sequel. With its visual flourishes and the breaking of the 4th wall, it certainly has the same chaotic sensibility. This time, McKay focuses on the life of American politician, Dick Cheney (Christian Bale) who as vice president to George W Bush (Sam Rockwell) became the most powerful man in the world during those 2 terms, engineering tax breaks for the wealthy, furthering the cause of the fossil fuel industry and orchestrating the lies that resulted in the invasion of Iraq. Bale is superb as the Machiavellian Cheney, immersing himself in the role in a scarily accurate fashion and the story is so outlandish at times that it is hard to believe that it is broadly true. If you liked The Big Short, you will almost certainly enjoy this, though I have to say that unlike McKay’s previous film, it does take a while to get going. However, from the moment where Cheney accepts the role offered to him by Bush, the movie cranks up a notch. That scene is brilliant, and more such sequences follow as the director’s freewheeling style comes to the fore. I particularly enjoyed a scene pastiching Shakespeare where Amy Adams, who plays Cheney’s wife, is superb and a montage near the end is as devastating as the news footage at the climax of BlacKkKlansman. Aside from those already mentioned, Steve Carrel shines again as the devious Donald Rumsfeld, amongst an impeccable cast. Great fun and with a powerful message. Rating: 9 out of 10 |