Wag the Dog

100647 / G / US / 1997 / Levinson, Barry / / political satire
Wag the Dog / Häntä heiluttaa koiraa. © New Line Productions. P: Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro, Barry Levinson. D: Barry Levinson. SC: Hilary Henkin, David Mamet - based on the novel American Hero by Larry Beinhart. DP: Robert Richardson. M: Mark Knopfler. CAST: Dustin Hoffman (Stanley Motss), Robert De Niro (Conrad Brean), Anne Heche (Winifred Ames), Woody Harrelson (Sgt. William Schumann), Denis Leary (Fad King), Willie Nelson (Johnny Green). 97’. 1,85. MPAA 35158. R = 17. DIST: Warner Bros. Finland. Viewed in Helsinki, VET, Monday 9 March 1998. **** Brilliant political satire about media wizards who can manage any situation when the President’s reputation is at stake. It is 11 days to the election, and the President has been implicated in an intimate encounter with a Girl Scout. The President’s spin doctor (De Niro) hires a major Hollywood producer (Hoffman) to manage an international crisis with Albania where the President has several opportunities to show off. The story is brisk and devilish, and the dialogue is so full of sharp jokes that one has to see the film a few more times to fully enjoy them.

Sphere

Barry Levinson: Sphere (US 1998). Dustin Hoffman (Dr. Norman Goodman), Sharon Stone (Beth Halperin), Samuel L. Jackson (Harry Adams).

100640 / 12 / US / 1998 / Levinson, Barry / / science fiction

Sphere / Vieras tulevaisuudesta. © Warner Bros. D: Barry Levinson. Based on the novel by Michael Crichton. DP: Adam Greenberg. ED: Stu Linder. PD: Norman Reynolds. M: Elliot Goldenthal. CAST: Dustin Hoffman (Dr. Norman Goodman), Sharon Stone (Beth Halperin), Samuel L. Jackson (Harry Adams). 133’. Scope. MPAA 35817. Rated PG-13. DIST: Warner Bros. Finland. 35 mm print viewed in Helsinki, VET, Thursday 5 March 1998. *** Intelligent science fiction yarn, one of those following the example of Solaris, as did The Event Horizon and Contact, with better success. The round shape, the time warp and the black hole play a central role in all. They are three variations of the same basic idea. In this one, the unknown and unseen alien has the power to make dreams come true. Barry Levinson is a good actors’ director but not a good action director.