[Review] Vice (7/10)

Title - Vice
Studio - Annapurna Pictures
Starring - Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell, Tyler Perry, Tyler Perry, Jesse Plemons, Justin Kirk, Alison Pill
Writer - Adam McKay
Director - Adam McKay
Release - 25 December 2019

Vice is proof that Adam McKay wasn't lucky with The Big Short, but he is here to stay as a contender for the Oscars in the directing and writing department.

McKay continues to keep audience's attention with his sleek dialogues and quick pacing through even the most mundane or heavy subjects in his movies.

Just like how he used Margot Robbie for a quick explanation on the world's most dry subject in The Big Short, here he used Alfred Molina; and the result was both funny and informative for the audience to take in.

The main cast were great, and that showed in this year's Oscar nomination list with Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Sam Rockwell. Plus the make-up to age up these actors also looked really good, though sometimes I do wonder if McKay couldn't put age-appropriate actors in certain roles and age them down slightly for the "early-years" scenes which were not that many to begin with.

The story would have been easier to follow had you followed the American politics during that time or know who characters like Donald Rumsfeld or Dick Cheney were and what they have done during their tenure in office. Even with McKay introducing the subject matter in the easiest possible way, it wasn't as easy to swallow.

Also, I think it really is time Hollywood movies stop showing Middle Eastern terrorist groups chanting their god's name. It is one reason why many people from the West have such negative connotation to the religion, which is very unfair to the rest of the world.

While not the easiest movie to sit through, but Bale, Adams, Carell and Rockwell were really a joy to watch. Not forgetting also Jesse Plemons once again showed how great he is as a performer also.