• |
  • |
  • |
  • |
Go

Wag the Dog, 1997

Wag the Dog

English

USA

Rating:7.1
jinni

Profile of Wag the Dog

Wag the Dog can be described as cynical, clever, and witty. The plot revolves around political corruption, media, and politics. Its comic aspect comes from satire and irreverent humor. Wag the Dog's main genres are comedy, independent, and drama. In terms of style, it is talky and features an all-star cast. In approach, it is realistic. Wag the Dog is set, at least in part, at the White House. It is located in Washington DC. It takes place in the 1990s. Wag the Dog is based on a book. The movie has received attention for being critically acclaimed. Note that it involves profanity.

Summary of Wag the Dog

When a Firefly Girl accuses the president of sexual misconduct in the Oval Office less than two weeks before the upcoming election, White House official Winifred Ames (Anne Heche) is told to bring in Conrad Bream (Robert De Niro) to fix the situation and save the president's chances for reelection. This mysterious "fixer" fabricates a conflict with Albania in an effort to detract attention from the sex scandal, bringing in legendary Hollywood producer Stanley Motss (Dustin Hoffman) to "produce" the war. When the CIA foils the initial plot, the creative team turns to a new story line, creating the saga of a U.S. soldier left behind enemy lines whom the president vows to find and return to American soil. Directed by Barry Levinson (DINER, RAIN MAN) and loosely based on Larry Beinhart's novel AMERICAN HERO, this merging of Hollywood and politics is both thought provoking and comical. The inspired casting of Hoffman as the self-absorbed producer and De Niro as the mysterious spin doctor is bolstered by a superb supporting cast that includes Denis Leary and Andrea Martin.

Details

Language: English
Country: USA
Release date: 17 December 1997
Runtime: 97 min

Cast and Crew

Dustin Hoffman as Stanley Motss in Wag the Dog
Dustin Hoffman

as Stanley Motss

Robert De Niro as Conrad Brean in Wag the Dog
Robert De Niro

as Conrad Brean

Photos

Wag the Dog (1997)
Wag the Dog (1997)
Wag the Dog (1997)
Wag the Dog (1997)
Wag the Dog (1997)
Wag the Dog (1997)
Wag the Dog (1997)
Wag the Dog (1997)
Wag the Dog (1997)
Wag the Dog (1997)
Wag the Dog (1997)
Wag the Dog (1997)

Clips

Wag the Dog
Wag the Dog: Home Video

Critics Reviews

Entertainment Weekly
If the result is often as glib as the targets it's satirizing, it's also driven by a cruelly distilled joy. Wag the Dog is an ode to the thrill of deception, a thrill embodied in Hoffman's inspired performance.
  • |
  • by: Owen Gleiberman
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Wag The Dog is an oft-hilarious, witty, scathing satire that represents four gifted if uneven artists (De Niro, Hoffman, Levinson, and Mamet) at the top of their respective games.
  • |
  • by: Nathan Rabin

Users Reviews

An underrated gem
I'm suprised this film didn't receive more attention when it was released. It is an insightful, biting, and (unfortunately) plausible story fuelled by taking our current war-as-entertainment reality and pushing it to the edge of credibility. De Niro...
  • 18.December.2010
  • |
  • by: mov
  • mov rated this movie9/10Amazing
Very clever
...and you may learn a few things from it. The idea that they can distract the public by faking a war is just mind boggling. De Niro is very good as the clever character, and Hoffman is great as the producer. There's even Willie Nelson in this....
  • 23.September.2009
  • |
  • by: nanikves
  • nanikves rated this movie8/10Great
Likely to see
Not for me

Jinni is best for now in Firefox, Internet Explorer 7 and 8, and Chrome

Part of the page Copyright © Muze | New Releases by Tribune Media Services.

Copyright 2010 Jinni Inc.
jinni message message message
jinni
jinni

smart offbeat funny

In: movies

Copy and paste this link into an email or instant message:

Send this page by email