IMDb >
Wag the Dog (1997)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsWag the Dog (1997) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 42 | slideshow) | Videos |
Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
9 January 1998 (USA) moreTagline:
A Hollywood producer. A Washington spin-doctor. When they get together, they can make you believe anything. morePlot:
Before elections, a spin-doctor and a Hollywood producer join efforts to "fabricate" a war in order to cover-up a presidential sex scandal. full summary | full synopsisAwards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 12 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(31 articles)
"In the Loop" - New clips from the IFC Films release. (From Movie Jungle. 6 July 2009, 1:34 AM, PDT)
"In the Loop" to be sent to cable via IFC
(From Movie Jungle. 5 July 2009, 10:23 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Fascinating and Interesting. moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Dustin Hoffman | ... | Stanley Motss | |
| Robert De Niro | ... | Conrad Brean | |
| Anne Heche | ... | Winifred Ames | |
| Denis Leary | ... | Fad King | |
| Willie Nelson | ... | Johnny Dean | |
| Andrea Martin | ... | Liz Butsky | |
| Kirsten Dunst | ... | Tracy Lime | |
| William H. Macy | ... | CIA Agent Charles Young | |
| John Michael Higgins | ... | John Levy | |
| Suzie Plakson | ... | Grace | |
| Woody Harrelson | ... | Sergeant William Schumann | |
| Michael Belson | ... | President | |
| Suzanne Cryer | ... | Amy Cain | |
| Jason Cottle | ... | A.D. | |
| David Koechner | ... | Director |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for language.Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
97 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreCertification:
Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Ontario) | Denmark:11 | Iceland:L | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:M | Argentina:13 | Belgium:KT | Chile:14 | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Mexico:B | Netherlands:12 | Norway:7 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Australia:M | Brazil:18Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The talk show phone number, (800) 555-0199, is common to many films and television shows because this is the only number that has been reserved by the phone company as an allowable "fake" 800 number for media usage. moreGoofs:
Miscellaneous: While Conrad and Winifred are on the airport to fly to L.A., on the TV screen during the news report, Santa Fe is written Sante Fe. moreSoundtrack:
COURAGE MOM moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Wag the Dog (1997) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Man of the Year | Thank You for Smoking | Buffalo Soldiers | Catch-22 | Face Eater |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Comedy section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |













Barry Levinson's under-rated "Wag the Dog" is a brilliant piece of satire which is to the 1990s what "All the President's Men" was to the 1970s. The president is in trouble after a sexual scandal with an under-aged girl. Enter Robert DeNiro and Anne Heche who want to distract the nation with something else as they try to get their boss out of the hot seat. The only problem is: nothing is going on. So it is up to them to create something to rally the country around the executive-in-chief. Now enter sleazy, but high class Hollywood director Dustin Hoffman (in a well-deserved Oscar-nominated turn) who is contacted to start an imaginary war. He agrees and the plan works, but as time goes by more and more problems occur and the lies continue to snow-ball. Levinson's excellent direction and Hilary Henkin's clever screenplay raise the performances of all involved. Naturally DeNiro and Hoffman are guaranteed to excel in a film like this, but good work is also done by people like Heche, Denis Leary, William H. Macy, Woody Harrelson and even Willie Nelson (!?). Somewhat ignored in 1997, but still one of the best films of that year and one of the more important films of the 1990s. 4.5 out of 5 stars.