Comedy,Drama
United States of America
In the film, the President's adviser, Winifred Ames (played by Anne Heche), enlists the help of a Hollywood producer named Conrad Brean (played by Robert De Niro) to create a diversionary tactic to take away attention from the President's scandal. Brean suggests creating a fake war with Albania, and the two of them work together to create a storyline to sell the war to the American public.
To make the fake war more realistic, the team hires a well-known actor, Stanley Motss (played by Dustin Hoffman), to craft a patriotic jingle and create a fake news broadcast. Motss creates scenes of soldiers fighting in Albania by using a green screen and filming them in a studio. He also stages a false rally to show support for the war.
As the fake war gains traction in the media, the team faces obstacles such as a CIA agent who discovers the plot and demands to be a part of the fake war effort. Additionally, a young girl in Albania who appears to be a victim of the war is found by the media, which leads to suspicion that the war is fake.
Despite the challenges, the team presses on with their plan, creating more elaborate false events and misleading the public to believe that the war is real. However, as the election approaches, the truth starts to unravel, and the team is forced to confront the ethical implications of their actions.
Wag the Dog is a satirical, dark comedy that explores the power of the media, the manipulation of public opinion, and the lengths to which people will go to maintain their hold on power.
