Wag The Dog Bluray =link= Site
It sounds like you're looking for the Blu-ray release of Wag the Dog (1997), the political satire directed by Barry Levinson and starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro.
Here’s the solid information:
- Blu-ray Status: Wag the Dog is available on Blu-ray. It was released by Shout! Factory (under their Shout Select line) in the US on June 20, 2017.
- Region: Region A (North America).
- Key Features on that release:
- New 4K scan of the original film elements (superior to the old DVD).
- Audio commentary with director Barry Levinson and producer/writer David Mamet.
- "From Washington to Hollywood and Back" – a retrospective featurette with Levinson and Hoffman.
- "The Old Gang" – a featurette on the cast.
- Theatrical trailer.
- Other Regions: There is also a Region B Blu-ray (e.g., from Via Vision Entertainment in Australia), but the Shout! Factory disc is the definitive one.
Where to find it: Check Amazon, eBay, or Shout! Factory's website. Note that it may go out of print periodically, so prices can vary. wag the dog bluray
The Plot: You Can’t Handle the Truth (But You’ll Laugh Anyway)
If you haven’t seen it, the premise is terrifyingly simple. Days before a presidential election, a sex scandal involving a young "Firefly" girl threatens to tank the Commander-in-Chief’s campaign. Enter Conrad Brean (Robert De Niro), a ruthless spin doctor, and Stanley Motss (Dustin Hoffman), a Hollywood producer.
Their solution? Don’t deny the scandal. Hide it. They fabricate a war in Albania. It sounds like you're looking for the Blu-ray
What follows is a masterclass in manipulation: they hire a disgraced producer to create fake news footage, compose a jingle ("Old Shoe"), and even trick the military-industrial complex into playing along. The tagline says it all: "A comedy about nothing we wouldn't do to keep our place in the world."
Should You Buy It? A Verdict.
Without a doubt, yes.
- For the cinephile: The Blu-ray respects Robert Richardson’s cinematography. You haven’t truly seen the “Good Old Shoe” scene until you’ve seen the stitching on the canvas in 1080p.
- For the political junkie: The commentary track is a masterclass in how Hollywood predicted the rise of social media disinformation (the film features a “virtual call girl” and internet rumor mills in 1997).
- For the collector: This is a niche, frequently out-of-stock title. Grab it while Warner presses it.
Audio: The Dialogue Mix
The film is dialogue-heavy, but the soundtrack features crucial guitar work by Mark Knopfler and the satirical war ballads.
- The Mix: The DTS-HD 5.1 track is front-heavy (center channel focused). Dialogue is crisp and clear, essential for following the rapid-fire banter between Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman.
- Highlight: The "Old Shoe" parade sequence offers the best use of surround sound, placing the viewer in the middle of the manufactured crowd.