Wag the Dog | Rotten Tomatoes (original) (raw)

Jason Bailey Vice If anything, in the years since its release, the worlds of politics, entertainment, and news media have grown even more intertwined in which narratives are carefully controlled and expectations are minimal. Jan 2, 2018 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Hilary Henkin and David Mamet's script is gleefully hyperbolic without ever straying from its political target. Mar 30, 2009 Full Review Time Out Lazily assembled by director Levinson, it slides into a series of soft, extended skits on engineering a media war, not helped by several badly handled leaps in the story. Jan 26, 2006 Full Review Dan DiNicola The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY) The idea sags near the end, but for some time, it is right on. Rated: B+ Jan 19, 2023 Full Review Wesley Lovell Cinema Sight ...I’ll simply let the movie explain itself and recommend it highly for anyone interested in satirical filmmaking. Rated: 4/4 Jan 7, 2023 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com ...a vitriolic comedy/satire that venomously assesses the lack of morality in the modern media and politics... Rated: 4/5 Jun 9, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Isa B An entertaining satire of American politics. It features good performances from a great cast. A good film. I recommend. 80/100 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/05/24 Full Review David F This political satire is a little dated in some of its details but its scathing attitude towards political scandals and cover ups is timeless. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/17/24 Full Review Denis K The really genius movie about how politics works :) Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/27/24 Full Review Bulgantamir B I really liked the talented actors Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/08/24 Full Review Godfrey D Its a really good movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/07/24 Full Review Бавуу Э Two weeks prior to reelection, the United States president lands in the middle of a sex scandal. In need of outside help to quell the situation, presidential adviser Winifred Ames (Anne Heche) enlists the expertise of spin doctor Conrad Brean (Robert De Niro), who decides a distraction is the best course of action. Brean approaches Hollywood producer Stanley Motss (Dustin Hoffman) to help him fabricate a war in Albania -- and once underway, the duo has the media entirely focused on the war. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/07/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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Synopsis Two weeks prior to reelection, the United States president lands in the middle of a sex scandal. In need of outside help to quell the situation, presidential adviser Winifred Ames (Anne Heche) enlists the expertise of spin doctor Conrad Brean (Robert De Niro), who decides a distraction is the best course of action. Brean approaches Hollywood producer Stanley Motss (Dustin Hoffman) to help him fabricate a war in Albania -- and once underway, the duo has the media entirely focused on the war.

Director

Barry Levinson

Producer

Robert De Niro, Barry Levinson, Jane Rosenthal

Screenwriter

Larry Beinhart, Hilary Henkin, David Mamet

Distributor

New Line Cinema

Production Co

Punch Productions, New Line Cinema, Baltimore Pictures, Tribeca Productions

Rating

R (Language)

Genre

Comedy, Drama

Original Language

English

Release Date (Theaters)

Dec 25, 1997, Wide

Release Date (Streaming)

Jul 1, 2008

Box Office (Gross USA)

$43.0M

Runtime

1h 37m

Sound Mix

Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Stereo, SDDS, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby Digital

Aspect Ratio

Flat (1.85:1)