Wag the Dog (1997)

Director:

Barry Levinson

Writers (WGA):

Larry Beinhart (book)
Hilary Henkin (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

9 January 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A Hollywood producer. A Washington spin-doctor. When they get together, they can make you believe anything.

Plot:

Before elections, a spin-doctor and a Hollywood producer join efforts to "fabricate" a war in order to cover-up a presidential sex scandal.

Plot Keywords:

Hollywood | Scandal | Cover Up | Albania | Death

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Bite the Bullet (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

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:18

Filming Locations:

Bakersfield, California, USA

Company:

Baltimore Pictures

Trivia:

The political talk show at the end of the film lists its phone number as 1-(800)-555-0199. This number is also Lester Burnham's office number in the film American Beauty (1999) as well as Lowell Bergman's fax number in the film The Insider (1999)

Goofs:

Continuity: The small private jet which the main characters and Sgt. Schumann board has two engines. When the jet is about to crash, a shot of the cockpit shows throttle and engine controls for a four-engine plane.

Quotes:

Conrad 'Connie' Brean: And it's most certainly NOT about the B-3 bomber.
John Levy: There is no B-3 bomber.
Conrad 'Connie' Brean: I just said that! There is no B-3 bomber. I don't know how these rumors get started!

Movie Connections:

References Jaws (1975)

Soundtrack:

I LIKE THE NIGHTLIFE

Dustin Hoffman is Robert Evans!

Right from the opening scene, Wag the Dog moves fast. The audience must be in shape to follow the actors from scene to scene. Fast talking and fast walking, the film moves from city to city, limo to jet, and studio to studio. The movie doesn't slow down until its final scene when nothing happens. Very political is all you can truly say about Wag the Dog. Anyone who believes in conspiracy theories has Wag the Dog as one of their top ten favorite films. De Niro and Hoffman are terrific together. Hoffman does his best Robert Evans impression as the fast talking, fast moving Hollywood Producer that can solve any problem.