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Wag the Dog (1997)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
9 January 1998 (USA) moreTagline:
A Hollywood producer. A Washington spin-doctor. When they get together, they can make you believe anything. morePlot:
Before elections, a spin-doctor and a Hollywood producer join efforts to "fabricate" a war in order to cover-up a presidential sex scandal. full summary | full synopsisAwards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 12 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(31 articles)
"In the Loop" - New clips from the IFC Films release. (From Movie Jungle. 6 July 2009, 1:34 AM, PDT)
"In the Loop" to be sent to cable via IFC
(From Movie Jungle. 5 July 2009, 10:23 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
A clever but mostly just very entertaining political satire. moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Dustin Hoffman | ... | Stanley Motss | |
| Robert De Niro | ... | Conrad Brean | |
| Anne Heche | ... | Winifred Ames | |
| Denis Leary | ... | Fad King | |
| Willie Nelson | ... | Johnny Dean | |
| Andrea Martin | ... | Liz Butsky | |
| Kirsten Dunst | ... | Tracy Lime | |
| William H. Macy | ... | CIA Agent Charles Young | |
| John Michael Higgins | ... | John Levy | |
| Suzie Plakson | ... | Grace | |
| Woody Harrelson | ... | Sergeant William Schumann | |
| Michael Belson | ... | President | |
| Suzanne Cryer | ... | Amy Cain | |
| Jason Cottle | ... | A.D. | |
| David Koechner | ... | Director |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for language.Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
97 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreCertification:
Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Ontario) | Denmark:11 | Iceland:L | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:M | Argentina:13 | Belgium:KT | Chile:14 | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Mexico:B | Netherlands:12 | Norway:7 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Australia:M | Brazil:18Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The scene in which shoes laced together are hanging from telephone and electric wires was shot on East Capitol Street a few blocks behind the U.S. Capitol. The production crew left several pairs of shoes behind and they remained hanging on the wires for years. moreGoofs:
Continuity: When Winifred is playing with her pearls after they find out the "war" has been ended, they are in her right hand in one shot, then jump to the left in the next shot. moreQuotes:
Stanley Motss: We got this deal with Governor Knee-High...Liz Butsky: [Corrects him] Senator Leahy, from Vermont.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Academy of Robots' Choice Awards Special (1998) (TV) moreSoundtrack:
COURAGE MOM moreFAQ
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Scariest thing about "Wag the Dog" is that it has a very realistic feel. Sure, there are some far fetched things but overall the movie leaves the impression like this is something that could actually happen in real life or already maybe has happened.
But "Wag the Dog" is more entertaining than anything. Yes, in a way you can compare it to "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" even though it is not as brilliant of course. The subject is treated in a very entertaining and comical way and that is what makes "Wag the Dog" a very fun movie to watch. But yet it also knows how to bring over the important political message of the movie. In that way this movie is comparable to "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb".
The main cast is very good. Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman are great in their second movie together ("Sleepers" was the first which was also directed by Barry Levinson and they can now be seen together again in "Meet the Fockers"). It sounds weird but they really have some chemistry together. Anne Heche however at times irritated me and also isn't exactly the most talented actress I've seen. There also is a very good and entertaining supporting cast with actors such as Willie Nelson, William H. Macy, Woody Harrelson, a still very young Kirsten Dunst and Craig T. Nelson in a uncredited role as 'enemy' Senator John Neal. Really entertaining are all of the Woody Harrelson sequence's, they are highly fun and might very well be the best parts of the movie.
A very fun entertaining movie with a realistic feel! Highly recommendable.
8/10