Dick Cheney's life once got Hollywood treatment with 'Vice' starring Christian Bale

The late former Vice President Dick Cheney's life was once adapted for the silver screen with Academy Award-winning actor Christian Bale at the helm in the 2018 movie "Vice."

Cheney, who served as vice president under former President George W. Bush, died on Nov. 3, his family announced. He was 84.

Eight years before his death, the quasi-fictional biopic "Vice" was released to mixed reviews, with many praising Bale's portrayal of Cheney.

It also stars Amy Adams as Lynne Cheney, Sam Rockwell as George W. Bush and Steve Carell as Donald Rumsfeld. The film was nominated for several Oscars and Golden Globe Awards.

The movie chronicles Cheney’s life – at times with some creative liberties – from his path in rural 1960s Wyoming to the White House. Here's what to know.

What is 'Vice' about? Biopic about Dick Cheney stars Christian Bale

"Vice" is a biopic about Cheney's life, though the former vice president was not involved in the making of the Adam McKay-directed film.

The movie, which was given ★★★1/2 out of four by USA TODAY's Brian Truitt, follows Cheney from his days as a young husband and father to his ascent to one of the nation's top political posts.

The film received a slew of award recognitions, including eight Academy Awards nominations and six Golden Globe Award nominations. Bale won the Golden Globe for Best Actor.

Bale portrayed Cheney throughout six decades of his life in the film, undergoing an impressive transformation that included four to eight hours a day in the makeup chair, he told USA TODAY in 2018. The actor also said he studied hundreds of pieces of Cheney footage to capture his persona.

Did Dick Cheney ever see 'Vice'?

Despite the film's popularity, Cheney said during an appearance at Beloit College in Wisconsin in 2019 that he had not seen it, according to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network.

However, his then-18-year-old granddaughter did see the film, he said at the time. When he asked her how she liked it, she said, "Well it says you're a real bad ass and that's cool."

"That's as good a judgment as any," Cheney said at the time, per the Journal Sentinel.

Liz Cheney slammed Christian Bale's portrayal of her dad in 'Vice'

Cheney's daughter, former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, had more to say about the film — or at least, about Bale's role in it after the actor likened Dick Cheney to the devil in his Golden Globes acceptance speech.

"Thank you to Satan for giving me inspiration on how to play this role," Bale said in his speech. 

The next day, Liz Cheney shared an article about Bale's 2008 arrest for alleged assault, captioning the social media post, "Satan probably inspired him to do this, too."

She also told Fox News that she hadn't seen the movie.

"I would just say that Christian Bale finally had the chance to play a real superhero and he clearly screwed it up," Cheney said. "I'm obviously incredibly proud of my dad, very proud and honored to be his daughter."

How to watch 'Vice'

"Vice" is available to rent on several streaming platforms, including Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube TV.

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at [email protected]. 

Contributing: Maeve McDermott