The film revolves around a political scandal and the efforts of a spin doctor and a Hollywood producer to distract the public’s attention from it. Just days before a presidential election, the incumbent president is accused of making unwanted advances toward a young girl in the Oval Office. To salvage the president’s image and secure his re-election, the president’s advisors hire Conrad Brean (played by Robert De Niro), a master spin doctor, to create a diversion.
Brean enlists the help of Hollywood producer Stanley Motss (played by Dustin Hoffman) to manufacture a fake war with Albania, complete with fabricated news reports and staged footage. Motss assembles a team of experts to create a convincing narrative, including a fake war hero named Sergeant William Schumann (played by Woody Harrelson).
As the fabricated war unfolds, Brean and Motss manipulate the media and orchestrate a series of staged events to sell the illusion of a conflict to the American public. They create patriotic songs, patriotic rallies, and even a fake POW to generate sympathy for the soldiers supposedly fighting in Albania.
Despite their best efforts to control the narrative, Brean and Motss encounter numerous obstacles and setbacks along the way. They must contend with leaks to the press, internal dissent within their team, and the unpredictable nature of the news cycle.
In a shocking twist, Schumann becomes a liability when he threatens to expose the truth about the fake war. Motss and Brean decide to eliminate him to protect their scheme, staging his death as a heroic sacrifice on the battlefield.
In the end, the president is re-elected, and the fabricated war with Albania is hailed as a success. However, Brean and Motss are left to grapple with the ethical implications of their actions and the consequences of their manipulation of the truth.
“Wag the Dog” is praised for its biting satire, sharp wit, and timely commentary on the power of media manipulation in politics. It’s a thought-provoking exploration of the relationship between politics, media, and public perception, and a cautionary tale about the dangers of misinformation and propaganda.