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Wag the Dog (1997) 7.1
Ratings:
7.1/10 from 62,541 users
Metascore: 73/100
Reviews: 214 user | 130 critic | 22 from Metacritic.com Shortly before an election, a spin-doctor and a Hollywood producer join efforts to fabricate a war in order to cover up a presidential sex scandal. Director:Barry Levinson |
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Dustin Hoffman | ... | ||
| Robert De Niro | ... | ||
| Anne Heche | ... | ||
| Denis Leary | ... | ||
| Willie Nelson | ... | ||
| Andrea Martin | ... | ||
| Kirsten Dunst | ... | ||
| William H. Macy | ... |
CIA Agent Charles Young
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| John Michael Higgins | ... |
John Levy
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| Suzie Plakson | ... |
Grace
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| Woody Harrelson | ... | ||
 |
Michael Belson | ... |
President
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| Suzanne Cryer | ... |
Amy Cain
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| Jason Cottle | ... |
A.D.
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| David Koechner | ... |
Director
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Edit
Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Storyline
After being caught in a scandalous situation days before the election, the president does not seem to have much of a chance of being re-elected. One of his advisers contacts a top Hollywood producer in order to manufacture a war in Albania that the president can heroically end, all through mass media. Written by Christy
Taglines:
Why does a dog wag its tail? Because a dog is smarter than its tail. If the tail were smarter, the tail would wag the dog. See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
9 January 1998 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Des hommes d'influence See more »Box Office
Budget:
$15,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend:
DEM 709,091 (Germany) (27 March 1998)Gross:
$43,022,524 (USA) (1 May 1998)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
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IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Stanley Motss: Well, yes but, our guy DID bring peace.
Conrad 'Connie' Brean: Yeah, but there wasn't a war.
Stanley Motss: All the greater accomplishment.
See more »
Written by Marc Ferrari & Nancy Hieronymous
Courtesy of Master Source
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The political talk show at the end of the film lists its phone number as 1-(800)-555-0199. This number is also Lester Burnham's office number in the film American Beauty (1999) as well as Lowell Bergman's fax number in the film The Insider (1999) See more »Goofs
While they are recording the song for the Albanian War, there is a shot of Stanley through the glass of the studio. The reflections of the singers do not match the words or rhythm of the song. See more »Quotes
Conrad 'Connie' Brean: Well, if Kissinger can win the Peace Prize, I wouldn't be surprised to wake up and find out I'd won the Preakness.Stanley Motss: Well, yes but, our guy DID bring peace.
Conrad 'Connie' Brean: Yeah, but there wasn't a war.
Stanley Motss: All the greater accomplishment.
See more »
Crazy Credits
"Special Thanks to The Cast and Crew for Completing Principal Photography in 29 Days!" See more »Soundtracks
CLASSICAL ALLEGROWritten by Marc Ferrari & Nancy Hieronymous
Courtesy of Master Source
See more »
I do not understand the people who did not like the movie. For me this is the greatest political satire since Chaplin's "The great dictator". Both de Niro and Hoffman are great as well. This movie is not about Clinton although they did predict correctly the Kosovo war, and Albanian terrorists. It is about American political system which is made by and for TV. Several lines from that movie ("Why Albania?" - "Why not?", "Albania does not rhyme", "What do you remember about the Gulf war? One smart bomb... I was in that building when we shot that shot", and many more) are impossible to forget because everyday political life does not let us forget them.