BERLIN (AP) — Christian Bale says transforming himself into former Vice President Dick Cheney made him feel “like a bullfrog.”
Bale has been nominated for a best actor Oscar for his part in “Vice,” which also has best movie and best director nominations. He and director Adam McKay presented the movie Monday at the Berlin International Film Festival, where it is screening out of competition.
Asked how he felt in Cheney’s body, which required an impressive physical transformation, Bale replied: “Like a bullfrog. Or sometimes he’s been described as a walrus.”
He added: “I built up my neck so I felt like I could take anything … I just felt like a bulldozer all day long.”
Bale said of the role that “it’s lovely to have a challenge … it seemed almost impossible.”
How about an evil bullfrog?
Bale is a phenomenal actor and I give him a lot of credit because I can’t even imagine getting myself into Cheney’s mindset for months on end to capture his true essence. Talk about dark and disturbing.
Bale once starved himself immensely to play the role for the film “The Machinist”, then immediately bulked up to play Batman. One admires the dedication he has to his craft.
I’ve seen Vice. I can’t recommend it to anyone because it is deeply disturbing. “Lust for Power” doesn’t begin to cover it. The willingness to corrupt and distort in order to have power was chilling to watch. And not that the Cheney portrayed in the film had any morality, he didn’t. Even his last shred of decency, shielding his lesbian daughter, he gave up in the end. His only reason was power for more power.
That said, Bale was absolutely stunning in the role.
Sam Rockwell as W is the perfect foil.
Multiply that by a few thousand and you have today’s GOP. It’s their way or the highway. His fiendish younger daughter is following in daddy’s footsteps.
I saw Vice, too. Until I did, I hadn’t stopped to think about the poor, selfless schmuck who made the anonymous heart donation. That, for me, was more depressing than Bale’s perfect depiction of amorality.