Blu-ray Review – Wag the Dog (1997)

      Wag the Dog, 1997.

      Directed by Barry Levinson.

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

      SYNOPSIS:

      Wag the Dog may be primarily recalled by cynical Gen Xers and younger Boomers, but it remains relevant in today’s rapid-fire political manipulation within social media. In some respects, the characters' plot to fabricate a war to divert attention from a presidential scandal might seem outdated, yet it serves as a cautionary tale for the age of social media, even if that term wouldn't emerge for almost another decade. This film’s debut on Blu-ray is highly recommended for that reason alone, and the director and cast surely don't disappoint.

      Let’s take a trip back to the seemingly innocent 90s, when significant political deception needed a high-priced “fixer” and a major Hollywood producer to execute, rather than a team of individuals using fake accounts to propagate misinformation on social media.

      I'm not claiming that the plan devised by fixer Conrad Brean (Robert De Niro), movie producer Stanley Motss (Dustin Hoffman), presidential aide Winifred Ames (Anne Heche), and others is superior to the chaos disseminated online in the last decade, but it at least demanded significant resources to be effective. Perhaps that's a minor improvement. Right? Maybe not.

      Anyway, Conrad Brean is called in to assist Winifred and her team in diverting focus from a scandal involving the President of the United States and a Firefly troop girl who spent some minutes alone with him and claims he sexually assaulted her. There's a significant ick factor that the script by David Mamet and Hilary Henkin glosses over — it would have been preferable if she were over the age of 18, thus avoiding the pedophilia aspect.

      Consequently, Brean determines that to shift attention from the scandal, he must construct a fictional war with Albania, of all places, enlisting Motss’s assistance in the process. The scheme starts with a simple image of a supposed Albanian girl (Kirsten Dunst) in a bombed village and ultimately includes an imprisoned ex-soldier (Woody Harrelson) who must be showcased as a hero.

      Throughout, Hoffman commands attention in nearly every scene, embodying the stereotype of a Hollywood producer fully (clearly inspired by Robert Evans). There’s a moment where Anne Heche seems to struggle not to laugh, prompting post-production edits around her performance. It's genuinely a humorous portrayal, and Hoffman earned the Academy Award nomination he received for this role.

      Revisit this film if you need a break from the current absurdities regarding the renaming of Lake Ontario or engaging in ludicrous trade disputes or other nonsense emanating from the Oval Office these days. It remains relevant and serves as a prescient reminder that misleading people through marketing campaigns, disguised as issues they care about, has always been, and always will be, possible.

      The new Blu-ray of Wag the Dog is from the Warner Archive Collection, continuing its impressive track record of exploring the studio’s extensive back catalog. I'm fairly certain this is the film’s first appearance on high-definition, and while the back cover doesn’t indicate a restoration, it looked fantastic on my setup.

      In terms of bonus features, there's not a lot included, but there is an excellent commentary track with director Barry Levinson and Hoffman, recorded separately. Plenty of fascinating insights can be found here.

      Additionally, there's a 24-minute segment titled From Washington to Hollywood and Back, which begins by noting that Wag the Dog predates President Bill Clinton’s sex scandal and the ensuing military action. Levinson, Hoffman, producer Jane Rosenthal, screenwriter Bud Schulberg, journalist Tom Brokaw, and others weigh in on this topic. I would love to see an updated version of this featurette that reflects the social media landscape.

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

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

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      Brad Cook