Summary
Amy Adams is not new to playing real-life people in biopics depicting the family of US Republican politicians, having starred in bothHillbilly ElegyandVice. With the announcement of J.D. Vance as Donald Trump’s Republican running mate in the upcoming US Presidential race, the Amy Adams film based on the Ohio Senator’s life is trending on Netflix.Hillbilly Elegywas based on Vance’s bestselling 2016 memoir and tells the story of Vance’s upbringing and his reflections on three generations of his Appalachian family, with Adams starring asJ.D. Vance’s mother, Beverly.
In 2018, Adams drew praise for her performance in another political biopic, this time in Adam McKay’sViceplaying Lynne Cheney, the wife of Republican Vice President Dick Cheney. While these films are quite different in tone and approach,they both highlight Adams' keen skill at delivering nuanced performances in an empathetic manner.Her portrayal inVice, in particular, shows her ability to humanize complex and often controversial figures, adding depth to the film’s sharp political commentary.
Every Time Amy Adams Was Nominated For An Oscar (& Who She Lost To)
Amy Adams has famously never won an Oscar, but there have been several occasions when she’s been nominated and eventually lost out at the last second.
Vice Is Another Amy Adams-Starring Political Biopic To Watch After Hillbilly Elegy
Both Films Explore The Early Life Of Republican Politicians
LikeHillbilly Elegy, McKay’sVicefollows the early life of a Republican politician, exploring moments in their lives that led to their later political ambitions.Vicefocuses on George W. Bush’sVice President Cheney (played by Christian Bale)and extends the timeline further than Ron Howard’s biopic by exploring the VP’s time in office, covering many of his controversial actions. McKay infuses his signature satirical black comedy into his film,presenting a searing criticism of the Bush administration and Cheney’s oversized influence within it.
Adams' portrayal of Lynne sees the VP’s wife as a traditional conservative housewife with an innate talent for political strategy. Her strong encouragement pushes her husband’s ambitions, and depicts her as a driving, and perhaps manipulative, force behind Cheney and his time in office.Adams' superb performance brings new dimensions of the character to life, demonstrating the nuances of Lynne’s role in the household. While it’s a far more politically-charged film than Howard’sHillbilly Elegy,Vice’s dark comedy, stunning direction, and sharp performances make it an enjoyable – if divisive – watch.
How Vice’s Reviews Compare To Hillbilly Elegy
The Divisive Nature Of Both Films Is Evident In Critic And Audience Responses
BothViceandHillbilly Elegydidn’t perform well at the box office, and divided critics and audiences alike. Each film landed prestigious awards nominations and praise for the performances. However, both films also saw Razzie nominations that criticized aspects of performances, writing, and directing. The movies also have quite differentRotten Tomatoesscores thathighlight the divisive nature of these films and a disconnect between viewers and critics.Hillbilly Elegywas widely panned by reviewers, scoring 25%, but its audience rating sees its score at 82%.Vice, on the other hand, is more consistent, with a 64% from critics and a 61% score from viewers.
Award nominations and wins per film
2
0
8
1
6
3
Both films also faced harsh criticismfor their portrayal of certain details.Hillbilly Elegywas controversialfor its generalization of working class people and many questioned the accuracy of the characters depicted.Vicealso saw criticism for its historical inaccuracies and the way it absolved the Democratic Party of blame. McKay later admitted to these missteps, stating in aDeadlineinterview that, “I regret not giving more blame to the Democrats, who went along with the war in Iraq.” Additionally, Dick Cheney’s daughter, Liz, criticized Christian Bale for his portrayal of her father, highlighting that both Adams projects were flawed.
Vice
Cast
Vice transforms Christian Bale into Dick Cheney, the Vice President of the United States during the presidency of George W. Bush, in Adam McKay’s biographical comedy-drama. Cheney, no stranger to the world of politics, has spent his time in various White House adjacent roles, but now that he’s stepped into the role of V.P., he intends to reshape the world the way he sees fit.
