I saw five movies over Christmas break, some bad and some good, but “”Vice”” stood out to me by far for several reasons. I consider myself to be a bit of a film connoisseur, and to me, what makes a good movie is its originality and willingness to break formulas. “Vice” not only broke rules but completely created a set of new ones, from rolling credits in the middle of the movie to inserting satirical Shakespeare duets.

The movie depicts the life of Dick Cheney, “Vice” President under George W. Bush. It opens with a scene of Cheney drunk driving in the 60s, setting the tone for the character of Cheney as interpreted by the director, and maintains that image throughout the entire film. There are definitely some politically charged undertones in the movie, but they are subtle enough that you don’t feel forced into an opinion while watching.

Director and producer Adam McKay did a fantastic job creating a story that is equally funny as it is eye-opening, and “Vice” definitely goes toe to toe with his last film, “The Big Short.” Besides being incredibly well-made, “Vice” also has an impressive cast that brings the movie to life. Christian Bale, playing Dick Cheney, looks and sounds just like the ornery VP, despite being 20 years younger and having a thick British accent in real life. His delivery was spot on, particularly in the last scene where he delivers his chilling closing speech inches from the camera. Among others that are particularly riveting are Amy Adams as Cheney’s wife, Steve Carell as Donald Rumsfeld, and Sam Rockwell as President Bush.

I have literally sat here for ten minutes trying to think of something I didn’t like about the movie, but nothing comes to mind… and I consider myself a very tough critic. “Vice” had more Golden Globe nominations than any other film, and its powerhouse cast and witty depiction make that no surprise. I would definitely recommend this film to anyone who loves movies, politics, or even a good story, because it truly caters to all of these things.

IMDB’s Score: 7.1 My Score: 8.9