Blu-ray Evaluation – Wag the Dog (1997)

      **Wag the Dog, 1997**

      Directed by Barry Levinson.

      Featuring Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Anne Heche, Denis Leary, Willie Nelson, Andrea Martin, and Kirsten Dunst.

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      While Wag the Dog might primarily resonate with a cynical Generation X and younger Baby Boomers, it's worth revisiting in our current age of rapid political manipulation through social media. In some respects, the characters' creation of a war to shift focus from a Presidential scandal might seem outdated, but it serves as a prophetic commentary for the social media era, which wouldn't be termed as such for nearly another decade. The film's debut on Blu-ray is strongly recommended for this reason alone, though you can't go wrong with such a talented director and cast.

      Let’s travel back to those seemingly innocent 90s days, when significant political deception needed a well-paid “fixer” and a prominent Hollywood producer, rather than merely a group of individuals using fake accounts to disseminate misinformation online.

      I'm not suggesting that the scheme devised by fixer Conrad Brean (Robert De Niro), film producer Stanley Motss (Dustin Hoffman), presidential assistant Winifred Ames (Anne Heche), and others is superior to the nonsense presented online in the past decade, but at least it required substantial resources to execute. Perhaps that’s a slight improvement. Right? Maybe not.

      Conrad Brean is brought in to assist Winifred and her team in diverting attention from a scandal involving the U.S. President and a Girl Scout who claims she was alone with him and alleges he assaulted her. The script by David Mamet and Hilary Henkin notably glosses over the uncomfortable nature of this scenario — it would have been less troubling if the girl were over 18, thus avoiding the pedophilia facet.

      To distract from the scandal, Brean concocts a plan to fabricate a war with Albania of all places and recruits Motss’s expertise. This plot kicks off with a single shot of a supposed Albanian girl (Kirsten Dunst) in a bombed village and culminates with a former soldier (Woody Harrelson) who must be showcased as a hero.

      Throughout, Hoffman truly steals the show in nearly every scene, fully embodying the archetype of a Hollywood producer (inspired, of course, by Robert Evans). There’s a moment when I believe Anne Heche was genuinely trying not to laugh, resulting in some clever editing around her during post-production. It's a hilariously entertaining performance, and Hoffman truly deserved his Academy Award nomination for this role.

      Consider revisiting this film if you seek a diversion from the latest absurdities about renaming Lake Ontario or engaging in frivolous trade disputes stemming from the Oval Office. It maintains its relevance, serving as a prescient reminder that misleading the public through a marketing campaign disguised as meaningful issues has always been possible, and will continue to be so.

      This new Blu-ray release of Wag the Dog comes courtesy of the Warner Archive Collection, which has a commendable history of exploring the studio’s extensive back catalog. I believe this is the film's first appearance in high-definition format, and while the case does not mention any picture restoration, it looked impressive on my setup.

      In terms of bonus features, there's not an abundance, but there is a fantastic commentary track featuring director Barry Levinson and Hoffman, recorded separately. There are many intriguing insights to discover here.

      Additionally, there's a 24-minute feature titled From Washington to Hollywood and Back, which opens by mentioning that Wag the Dog predates President Bill Clinton’s own sex scandal and the resulting military action. Levinson, Hoffman, producer Jane Rosenthal, screenwriter Bud Schulberg, journalist Tom Brokaw, and others share their thoughts. I would love to see an updated version of this featurette addressing the social media landscape today.

      Lastly, there’s a six-minute Q&A with actor William H. Macy, who plays a minor role and discusses his collaboration with Mamet, along with the theatrical trailer.

      **Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★**

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      Brad Cook