Wag the Dog Subtitled VHS Video Robert De Niro A cynical comedy starring two great actors, De Niro and D. Hoffman. A shocking incident occurs where the current US President engages in sexual misconduct with a girl in his office. Breen, also known as a cover-up man, is asked to divert the public's attention from the incident. Breen uses Hollywood producer Motts to fabricate a fictional war. "Wag the Dog" (Japanese title: Uwasano Shinsou Wag the Dog) is a 1997 American comedy film. It is a loose adaptation of the novel "American Hero" by Larry Beinhart. Directed by: Barry Levinson Screenplay by: Hilary Henkin David Mamet Produced by: Jane Rosenthal Barry Levinson Robert De Niro Starring: Dustin Hoffman Robert De Niro Anne Heche Music by: Mark Knopfler Cinematography by: Robert Richardson Edited by: Stu Linder Distributed by: United States: New Line Cinema Japan: Gaga Communications Release Date: United States: December 17, 1997 Japan: May 23, 1998 Running time: 97 minutes