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.

wag the dog (1997)

RELEASED: January 9, 1998

  • Barry Levinson

  • Larry Beinhart (Book "American Hero")

    Hilary Henkin (Screenplay)

    David Mamet (Screenplay)

  • Michael De Luca — Executive Producer

    Robert De Niro — Producer

    Barry Levinson — Producer

    Eric McLeod — Co-Producer

    Claire Rudnick Polstein — Executive Producer

    Jane Rosenthal — Producer

    Ezra Swerdlow — Executive Producer

  • Stanley Motss: Dustin Hoffman

    Conrad Brean: Robert De Niro

    Winifred Ames: Anne Heche

    Sgt. William Schumann: Woody Harrelson

    Fad King: Denis Leary

    Johnny Dean: Willie Nelson

    Liz Butsky: Andrea Martin

  • Elliot Goldenthal

  • Adam Greenberg

  • Stu Linder

  • Ellen Chenoweth

    Debra Zane

  • Norman Reynolds

  • Mark Worthington

  • Robert Greenfield

  • Gloria Gresham

  • Baltimore Pictures

    New Line Cinema

    Punch Productions

    Tribeca Productions

  • New Line Cinema

  • 1997:

    AWARDS CIRCUIT COMMUNITY AWARDS

    Best Adapted Screenplay — Hilary Henkin & David Mamet Nominated

    NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW

    Best Supporting Actress — Anne Heche 🏆 Won

    1998:

    ACADEMY AWARDS

    Best Actor in a Leading Role — Dustin Hoffman Nominated

    Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published — Hilary Henkin & David Mamet Nominated

    BERLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

    Special Jury Prize — Barry Levinson 🏆 Won

    Best Film — Barry Levinson Nominated

    CASTING SOCIETY OF AMERICA

    Best Casting for Feature Film, Comedy — Debra Zane & Ellen Chenoweth Nominated

    CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS

    Best Picture — Nominated

    GOLDEN GLOBES

    Best Screenplay - Motion Picture — Hilary Henkin & David Mamet Nominated

    Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical — Nominated

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical — Dustin Hoffman Nominated

    NATIONAL SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS AWARDS

    Best Actor — Dustin Hoffman 🥉 Won

    ONLINE FILM & TELEVISION ASSOCIATION

    Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium — Hilary Henkin & David Mamet Nominated

    Best Comedy/Musical Actor — Dustin Hoffman Nominated

    Best Comedy/Musical Picture — Barry Levinson, Danny DeVito & Jane Rosenthal Nominated

    RUSSIAN GUILD OF FILM CRITICS

    Best Foreign Actor — Robert De Niro Nominated

    SATELLITE AWARDS

    Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical — Dustin Hoffman Nominated

    Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical — Anne Heche Nominated

    SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS

    Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role — Dustin Hoffman Nominated

    TURKISH FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION AWARDS (SIYAD)

    Best Foreign Film — 7th Place

    WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA

    Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published — Hilary Henkin & David Mamet Nominated

    1999:

    BAFTA AWARDS

    Best Screenplay - Adapted — Hilary Henkin & David Mamet Nominated

    POLITICAL FILM SOCIETY

    Democracy — Nominated

    2018:

    20/20 AWARDS

    Best Score Comedy or Musical — Mark Knopfler Nominated

    Best Adapted Screenplay — Hilary Henkin & David Mamet Nominated

Where to Watch

  • Peter Coyote in Barry Levinson's 'Sphere'.

  • Samuel L. Jackson in Barry Levinson's 'Sphere'.

  • Dustin Hoffman in Barry Levinson's 'Sphere'.