By John H. Foote

The Race for the Academy Award for Best Actor has changed yet again, with scenes from a trailer making it clear Christian Bale is going to be a nominee for Best Actor for his alarmingly accurate performance of Dick Cheney.

Bale, known to be among the finest actors of his generation, immersed himself completely in the role, once again gaining a great deal of weight, becoming the character. The trailer shows that Bale nails that lazy, hesitant speaking manner Cheney has and the way his unfeeling eyes bore into you, sizing you up. The clips we see (with Sam Rockwell as George W. Bush offering Cheney the position of Vice President) are extraordinary looking, as we see Cheney manipulate Bush, as he did his entire presidency.

The film, Vice, does not open until December but I suspect there will be screenings in November for the Academy and critics, and screeners will be sent out to critics groups and the guilds.

Directed by Adam McKay, the film is said to be the film Oliver Stone wanted W. (2008) to be, but never quite was.

Bale should have been nominated last year for his powerfully stoic performance in Hostiles (2017) but was snubbed. He won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for The Fighter (2010) and could be holding an Oscar for Best Actor this year. Watch out, Viggo Mortensen.

View the trailer here

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