Yesterday's first screening of Adam McKay's "Vice" (in L.A.) has led to the the first wave of critical reactions for the film (positioned to be released by Annapurna on Christmas day.). The tweets say that Christian Bale is great as Dick Cheney and that the film is a risky, bold take on the conniving Vice-President's 8-year stay at the White House. However, judging by the reactions, it seems like some are quite hesitant in calling "Vice" a great movie. I've read and heard lots of "there's a lot to ponder," type of responses.
I'll be watching "McKay's film later this week.
Variety‘s Kris Tapley: “Christian Bale might be in line to receive his second Academy Award to date, for his uncanny portrayal of former Vice President Dick Cheney [and] the film packs an infuriating punch as McKay writes history with lightning yet again. The question [is] whether we’re ready to dissect it all.
“Is the movegoing audience — indeed, are Academy voters — ready to take stock of all this chapter in history with [today’s] depressing news glowing up at us from our mobile devices on a daily basis? It would be a hell of a time to hand someone an Oscar for portraying this particular man, and that takes nothing from Bale’s brilliant work.
“By the same token, Vice could be argued as the most urgent and important film in the race this year. One just wonders if the stomach is there for it.”
Criterion's December lineup has some great additions to the library, but the title that jumped out at me is Werner Herzog's "Grizzly Man," which officially joins the Collection on December 8.