Terrible editing dismantles this film Well, I was certainly not expecting that. This is a strangely odd biographical film based upon the infamous Vice President - Dick Cheney. A peculiar choice to make a film about given the secrecy that surrounds him (they even make mention of it during the opening titles). Before I talk about some aspects of the film I want to say: it seriously had potential to be an Oscar contender, but won't be.
The film's strongest point is the acting - it is phenomenal! The quartet of leads which are: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carell and Sam Rockwell really shine in this movie, and it wouldn't surprise me if they feature heavily during awards season. However, Bale is in a class of his own. Hands down one of the best performances I've seen in a long time, not just by him, by anyone. He brought so much depth to the character, and it was clear he completed a conscientious study of the figure. Give him the Oscar now! Rockwell could easily go back-to-back with his exceptional portrayal of George W. Bush - Rockwell was born to play this part. Adam McKay as director and writer also deserves credit for creating, and visualising an intriguing story.
Despite these positives, the editing is atrocious. Hank Corwin and his team have completely destroyed the movie. It really feels, and looks like a giant mess. Dramatised moments from Cheney's life are placed in a non-chronological order which completely confuse the audience. It doesn't feel like a proper movie.
This film is a great example of a strong film ruined by editing. It really is disappointing to see, and shows everyone of the importance of this post-production element. Could've been a 10/10, editing alone dropped the score down to 6/10. I felt really frustrated after viewing this.