"You want me to produce a war?"      

WAG THE DOG (R) 

Reviewed January 24, 1998 - Check out the Wag The Dog web site.

Oh, the scandal!!

It's two weeks before election day, and the President of the United States is charged with sexual misconduct against a young girl.  Ahead in the polls but now faced with the prospect of a public and media lynching, political spin doctor Conrad Brean (Robert DeNiro) is brought in.  Crisis management, damage control, call it what you will...the point is to divert attention from the sex scandal, and keep the President's numbers up until election day.  The solution?  A war.  With Albania.

Why Albania?  What did they ever do to us?  Calling in Hollywood Producer Stanley Motss (Dustin Hoffman), and with Presidential Advisor Winifred Ames (Anne Heche) at his side, the trio set about to answer these questions and raise many more, as they try to pull off one of the greatest cons in political history: the fabrication of a non-existent war.

If you haven't guessed by now, Wag the Dog is pure socio-political satire.  A comedy with a dark heart and a sharp eye, it aims at both the vulturous mass media and fickle public opinion, and shows us how easily the line between truth and perception can be blurred.  On the way, we get some classic performances from Hoffman and DeNiro, and strong supporting performances from Anne Heche, Denis Leary, and Woody Harrelson.  Laugh it up, this movie is supposed to be fun, but don't ignore the message it delivers.  When "the truth" becomes irrelevant, and perception is all that matters, then the tail wags the dog, and (as you know) that ain't quite right. 

Credit goes to Director Barry Levinson for putting together a sharp, fast-paced, and entertaining film.  Though some will no doubt be put off by the dark, at times condescending tone of this movie, it's one that's worth seeing if you're up for a little satire.  Or...maybe our "real" headlines serve the same purpose just as well? 

Ah, who knows anymore... :-)

Responses from cyberspace--thanks for writing!

elmjacks@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "Just seen it on video - terrific movie - wonderful performances and the dialogue is to die for - very cruel but, having survived the media blitz of the Gulf War, I can only think - too true!!!!!" (11/11/98)