Wag the Dog (DVD)

Director Barry Levinson's political and media satire based on Larry Beinhart's novel, American Hero. The President of the United States, who is up for re-election, has just been accused of sexual misconduct with a Girl Scout in the Oval Office. The White House staff calls in top spin doctor Conrad Brean (Robert DeNiro) to do damage control. His idea: distract the press from the scandal by creating a war in Albania. In order to pull this off Brean hires Hollywood producer Stanely Moss (Dustin Hoffman) to choreograph his "pageant." Keep in mind this is satire... not truth, not that you'd notice it of course. Also starring Denis Leary, Woody Harrelson and Willie Nelson. Featuring commentary by Hoffman, and Levinson. Also including "The Line Between Truth and Fiction." (1998) Running time: 97 minutes.

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Anne Heche, Woody Harrelson, Denis Leary, David Koechner, Harland Williams, Roebuck "Pops" Staples, Willie Nelson, Andrea Martin, Michael Belson, Suzanne Cryer, John Michael Higgins, Suzie Plakson, Kirsten Dunst, Jason Cottle, William H. Macy, Bernard Hocke, Phil Morris, Chris Ellis, J. Patrick McCormack, Jennifer Manley, Richard Lawson, Drena De Niro, Stephanie Kemp, John Cho, Ron McCoy, Merle Haggard, James Belushi, George Gaynes

Director: Robert De Niro, Barry Levinson, Jane Rosenthal

Rating: R