Wag the Dog

New Line Cinema | Release Date: December 25, 1997

7.3	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 60 Ratings

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CinemaCrushMay 13, 2018

Although at times it's not a wild romp through political tomfoolery and deception, it is a believable one, and that's what sells it. It's subtle demeanor has a strong aftertaste that resonates through any time period. Still relevant as everAlthough at times it's not a wild romp through political tomfoolery and deception, it is a believable one, and that's what sells it. It's subtle demeanor has a strong aftertaste that resonates through any time period. Still relevant as ever and strong performances from a smart ensemble cast, complimented with two cherries on top. A hilarious Woody Harrelson cameo and Willie Nelson practically playing himself. One of my personal top ten listmakers in political fiction, with the likes of Dr Strangelove, The Manchurian Candidate etc... it definitely has a place with those classics. Wag the Dog is all bite.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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gracjanskiSep 12, 2020

I remember when I was watching this movie the first time in 1997 I didnt understand the movie. It was nonsense for me. After so many years and understanding the media and politics, I enjoyed the movie so much. This movie laughs so much aboutI remember when I was watching this movie the first time in 1997 I didnt understand the movie. It was nonsense for me. After so many years and understanding the media and politics, I enjoyed the movie so much. This movie laughs so much about all the naive people, who believe everything, what is coming out of the TV...De Niro and Hoffman were brilliant.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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BroyaxNov 24, 2019

Dans la même veine que "Meurtres en direct", une excellente satire de la politique politicienne, de la manipulation des masses et des écrans de fumée... C'est ici très inspiré d'une certaine affaire Lewinsky qui concernait un certainDans la même veine que "Meurtres en direct", une excellente satire de la politique politicienne, de la manipulation des masses et des écrans de fumée... C'est ici très inspiré d'une certaine affaire Lewinsky qui concernait un certain président, un "DSK" bien avant l'heure en somme qui a ensuite détourné l'attention par une petite guerre opportuniste en ex-Yougoslavie...

Notons cependant que le film est sorti (aux Etats-unis) un bon mois avant le scandale et que soit les auteurs étaient incroyablement bien informés, soit ils avaient une imagination particulièrement... perverse ! mais quand on pense aux armes de destruction massivement fictives de la seconde guerre d'Irak, on se dit de toute façon que la fiction reste toujours bien en deçà de la réalité... (cf les trumperies !).

Quoi qu'il en soit, cette comédie souvent acide n'y va pas par quatre chemins et met les pieds dans le plat, parfois un peu trop sans doute, emportée par son entrain très entraînant qui fait feu de tout bois. Il faut dire que les acteurs s'en donnent à coeur joie, De Niro en "Monsieur Propre" et Hoffman en producteur mégalomane !

Drôle et cinglant en tout cas, le film reste très rythmé et dénonce avec intelligence (ce qui reste rare en Amérique) les lavages de cerveau et les bourrages de crâne en tous genres : une belle réussite.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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MichaelD.Mar 13, 2006

I watched this in Luxembourg a couple of years ago and some people in the audience were laughing at scenes for reasons unclear to me.. It seems to be an on the whole well regarded movie but I found it predictable, corny, cliched yes I did I watched this in Luxembourg a couple of years ago and some people in the audience were laughing at scenes for reasons unclear to me.. It seems to be an on the whole well regarded movie but I found it predictable, corny, cliched yes I did not like it at all.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SpangleMay 17, 2016

A smart and crafty political comedy, Wag the Dog entertains throughout while also pointing out many flaws in the American political system and news media. Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Anne Heche, Denis Leary, William H.Macy, and WoodyA smart and crafty political comedy, Wag the Dog entertains throughout while also pointing out many flaws in the American political system and news media. Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Anne Heche, Denis Leary, William H.Macy, and Woody Harrelson, are all very good here. The writing is smart and the direction from Barry Levinson is solid with the film having very good pacing and being quite coherent. While the film can get a bit outlandish at times, Wag the Dog's excesses are largely due to its insane premise and the real situations it satires throughout the film. Overall, Wag the Dog entertains, satires, and will have you laughing from beginning to end as this cast of characters finds themselves in new and odd situations.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Compi24Mar 6, 2020

A "had to be there" flick, I suspect. That's not to completely diminish the timelessness of what the movie's trying to say, but if you look into the events occurring around the film's release, I'm betting this one was more enthralling toA "had to be there" flick, I suspect. That's not to completely diminish the timelessness of what the movie's trying to say, but if you look into the events occurring around the film's release, I'm betting this one was more enthralling to watch in the theater back in 1997. I also couldn't help but feel as though the "point" of everything became a bit too clear early on. Not too early on, but still, I'd had my fill at a point. The scene structure and dialogue bothered me as well. So many scenes go by featuring characters simply talking to one another, while other characters watch or interject seemingly unrelated lines, awkwardly so. Characters will problem-solve their way through a scene with little to no resistance. It almost feels like a hangout movie at a point. Normally, I'd chalk all of this up to a screenplay being much more of a slave to its message than to actually telling a good story, but it's not as though the narrative in play is uninteresting. "Wag The Dog" is a bit of an odd duck of a film, but not one I particularly regret watching. Super "meh" ending, however.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Bazsa1Sep 29, 2013

This movie is not good because of the story, the feeling, the actors' talent. It's good because what and how is it talking about politics and how things are going in the shadow of the White House. It makes you think it makes you laugh, like aThis movie is not good because of the story, the feeling, the actors' talent. It's good because what and how is it talking about politics and how things are going in the shadow of the White House. It makes you think it makes you laugh, like a good comedian. It will tell you things in a very unique and funny way. But when you leave after it's performance you will think about what it's said and it will leave some messages deep inside you. If you like watching what happens behind the curtains, then this is your movie. But I could recommend it to nearly anyone. It is worth the time you spend on watching it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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mohamad91hkMay 21, 2020

The film is satirizing the USA politics in an ironic way, and how the politicians try to hide their scandals by making something bigger (like war) to distract the public opinion.

The idea is cool to make it as a funny film, but actually theThe film is satirizing the USA politics in an ironic way, and how the politicians try to hide their scandals by making something bigger (like war) to distract the public opinion.

The idea is cool to make it as a funny film, but actually the film wasn't funny at all, It looks like a biography film not a comedy!!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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amheretojudgeDec 29, 2018

Vote For Honesty.

Wag The Dog Levinson's smart and electrifying schemes on conjuring the elections is a work of pure art and not your usual sketchy comic drama. From the first frame the tale generates an exuberant energy on screen withVote For Honesty.

Wag The Dog

Levinson's smart and electrifying schemes on conjuring the elections is a work of pure art and not your usual sketchy comic drama. From the first frame the tale generates an exuberant energy on screen with pragmatic conversation that fuels on the environment offered to it that feels honest and real to the core. Similar to your usual mundane office day, this hectic week triumphs on its cutthroat sarcasm and hilarious ideologies. Unlike your usual structure, it is a one big act that feeds on high pitched dramatic antics that the gripping screenplay is brimmed of. The makers aren't hesitating on making big provocative decisions, their genuinely effective feeling towards justifying the characters is a testament to the writers' brilliance.

As much as hilarious the film is, the grasp of it towards practicality grows stronger and stronger that induces eye popping complex drama among the characters that are all at their vulnerable point of their life, either through success or failure. The content revolving around such political crises ought to have a diverse solution, and Levinson's world has managed to be diplomatic yet accurate to its requirements and answers. Hoffman at the realm of it is a delight to watch, he can pull off comic timing as perfect as his dramatic performance is.

In fact arguably, Hoffman is a much better humorisc than De Niro is, his body language speaks for his intentions that are sinister and quirky. De Niro in his underdog character that is often retreated by the makers as a trump card in crisis. And he flaunts majestically on screen especially the first time Macy confronts him for some questioning. Hecke supports convincingly and Harrelson lifts the film to a whole new level through his cynicism. Wag The Dog leaves its audience wagging the tale merrily.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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ahmedaiman9999Jul 31, 2018

Every political satire I've watched requires some engagement to seem plausible, except this one. Wag the Dog is the only one of its kind that contains just enough realistic weight to be uncomfortably realistic. You will laugh out loud, andEvery political satire I've watched requires some engagement to seem plausible, except this one. Wag the Dog is the only one of its kind that contains just enough realistic weight to be uncomfortably realistic. You will laugh out loud, and feel that all things make a lot of sense without wondering. Also, it doesn't try to be bitter and harsh as other satirical movies do. In fact, it's always fluffy and warm, and that makes the movie quiet ironical in its own. Especially, because it's very very painfully relevant. All the actors delivered terrific performances, and there is superb chemistry between every actor and another, even who have smaller roles. Needless to say, Robert De Niro is great. But Dustin Hoffman is who steals the show. Hoffman gave one of the best performances in his entire career. Actually, I will put his performance in Wag the Dog right after the performance that made him a household name in The Graduate. But let's put that off till I watch Rain Man. Woody Harrelson also has a small role in this movie, and although his character in not very interesting, especially because it was in the weakest part of the movie when it dragged a little bit, Harrelson's impeccable performance is not to blame. Every single subtle trick in Wag the Dog makes you burst out laughing. And the movie takes advantage of all these tricks and small details until the credits roll. It never wastes any clever joke that made you laugh, and uses it again in a more clever way to make you laugh over it again and again.

Barry Levinson's direction is so smart, clever and slick. He made the movie fast-paced and that was a good decision, but I think he could have concentrated on the funniest moments in the movie to make them more pleasant, and to make them memorable not only funny. I have kinda the same issue with one of my all-time favorite movies, The Graduate. (I think Mike Nichols should have focused on the drama more than he did.) The political commentary was a little on-the-nose at first but Barry Levinson's wit direction outweighed this little issue from the beginning. And the result is one of, if not the funniest political satire movie I've ever seen.

(8.5/10)… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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