Review of Wag the Dog (1997) by Justin M — 31 Mar 2011

Barry Levinson's uproarious black comedy is a razor-sharp satire where politics and showbiz are but two sides of the same coin. He gets a lot of help from screenwriter David Mamet, whose intricate plotting and saucy dialogue propel this story of the fabrication of a war to cover up a presidential sex scandal.

Robert De Niro gives one of his loosest, giddiest performances ever as the spin doctor--a "Mr. Fix-it"--brought in for damage control. He enlists the help of a top Hollywood producer, played with bemused glee by Dustin Hoffman.

He is a joy to watch vamping the stereotype of a showbiz top player who gets high on his success and career, whose answer for every problem is "This is nothing," usually followed by some anecdote of a situation he overcame in the business.

Anne Heche plays the presidential aid who goes along on this ride with these two men who do their jobs too well, and she is comically effective. Woody Harrelson scores some cheap chuckles as a surprising player in this elaborate hoax, Denis Leary is funny as a "Fad King" who comes up with ways to brand this fake war into the American cultural fabric, and Willie Nelson is too-perfectly cast as the musician brought on board to concoct a war anthem.

The wit is alternately scathing and silly, yet while events flirt with the hyperbolic it's grounded in enough reality to make us wince at the manipulation of information, the scandal-hungry 24-hour media, the gullibility and ignorance of the American public, and the exploitation of newfound "patriotism.

" Levinson keeps this light on its feet and brisk, dark and edgy while never letting things turn grim or heavy-handed. It's all such wicked fun that the fact that it leaves you with a few thoughts on your mind and can get people talking makes it all the better.