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Who, what, when, where and 'W'

Posted: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 7:00 AM by Kurt Schlosser
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Nothing stirs the masses like a good political debate, and aside from Michael Moore, the one person we can count on to get red and blue blood boiling is director Oliver Stone.

Stone, who brought us the presidential films "JFK" and "Nixon," is back with "W," a film about the life and presidency of George W. Bush. The film stars Josh Brolin as the president, Elizabeth Banks as first lady Laura Bush, Thandie Newton as Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, Richard Dreyfuss as Vice President Dick Cheney and many more. Stone reportedly did a major rush job on the making of the film in order to have it ready before the November election. Brolin and Jeffrey (Colin Powell) Wright made news this month when they were arrested following a bar brawl on location in Shreveport, La.

The first trailer for the film hit the Internet this week and it shows Brolin, as a young Bush, using a beer bong. He also gets yelled at by his father. That's it. Roll credits. (OK, there's a little more to it than that, but those parts stuck with me). Stone has said the film won't be an anti-Bush polemic, but, as he told Daily Variety, "a fair, true portrait of the man. How did Bush go from being an alcoholic bum to the most powerful figure in the world?"

I'm not going to get into the politics of political movies. I've seen a few I like and a few I didn't over the last eight years. Generally when I seek out a political film, I look for documentaries so I don't have to suspend so much disbelief and forget that Hannibal Lecter is playing Richard Nixon. I am curious about whether you think Oliver Stone can make a decent movie here. Is it the wrong time to explore this subject -- a sitting president? Is there a political film you'd point to as top notch in the genre? Do you plan on seeing "W."? Cast your votes in the comments.

 

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I will LOVE seeing this film:

Stone is a fabulous, fun, cool, and devoted film maker, and I don't give a hoot whether he makes films that assert his opinions or films that pretend to be "objective," whatever that could possibly mean, anyhow; he makes fabulous films either way.

Hollywood is full of fabulous and courageous souls who make true ART, and all the (Republican) BS Political philistine, fascist uptightness and fear and anger about such entertainment and instruction is poppycock.

"W" Bush is one of the worst human beings in the history of our species.  There is nothing even remotely more repugnant than him, his administration, and the last hellish eight years of brutality and suffering and pain he's given humanity, so there is nothing remotely wrong about making a film that makes us laugh (a little, hopefully, anyways) at his derangement and abominally low character, for we have done nothing but cry for eight years, and we will suffer at least thirty more years from the destruction he and his cabal have wreaked upon our once miraculously bright and innocent planet.

Steve, Canandaigua, New York (Sent Wednesday, July 30, 2008 5:12 PM)

When we read or watch a news story about someone who was lost in the throes of alcohol or drug addiction, got themselves out of it and eventually made something decent of their life, we are inspired by their courage, fortitude and resolve.   With this in mind, why in the world do we crucify Bush for the mistakes he made in his past?  And now we’re going to see all of them on a giant screen in a room full of people?  Is there a single person out there that has NO skeleton in their closet?  Is not the “silver lining” of making mistakes in life the lessons to be learned from them and the personal inner strength gained in doing so?  Would you really want a leader who has never done anythng wrong or has never failed in anything in life prior to being elected?  It would be naïve to think that such a person exists, or that anyone close to that “ideal” would be fit to run this country and make the hard decisions that are required on a daily basis.  Obviously, when someone enters the public arena and serves in a highly visible position, there are concessions to be made with regards to their privacy.  On the other hand, it doesn’t seem like this gives us the right to attack these people on such a personal and vindictive level.  Whether you believe in the Bible or not, I think we would all do well to remember that if we are without sin, only then do we have the right to consider throwing stones.  I know that I wouldn’t want the mistakes I’ve made in my past on that big screen…

Darryll, Washington (Sent Wednesday, July 30, 2008 5:23 PM)

If Stone knew the truth it might be dangerous but since he doesn't were okay.  He is an artist and they can say and do anything (like lie continuously) with creative license.  This movie will be crap and I will not see it but hey I am sure moveondot.org will love it.

Bill, Texas (Sent Wednesday, July 30, 2008 5:24 PM)

Oliver Stone bills 'W' as "a fair, true portrait of the man." But yet he editorially brands George Bush "an alcoholic bum," which seems to belie his previous assertion entirely. If this is how he hopes to dispell the notion that his film is an anti-Bush polemic, it doesn't bode well for the finished product. Nice try, Olie.

Mark Brinkerhoff, Dallas, TX (Sent Wednesday, July 30, 2008 5:42 PM)

Hollywood already did make a movie about Bill and Hillary! 'Primary Colors' came out in 1998. And albeit velied, it definitely used the former first couple for inspiration, if not source material. (And yes, it was a comedy -- a brilliant one I might add.)

Mark Brinkerhoff, Dallas, TX (Sent Wednesday, July 30, 2008 5:48 PM)

Why in the world would anyone want to see a movie about the way someone "used to be"?   At this point in my life, I'm not what I ought to be, and I'm not what I'm going to be, but thank God, I'm not what I used to be.  The U. S. Presidency has not been George's forte, but what does that have to do with a kid who partied really hard?  He doesn't anymore.  Is Oliver Stone trying to tell us "boomers" that all of us who partied hard years ago grow up to be "bad" people?  Come on, Oliver, there are those who remember you "back in the day".  

Glenda Bush, Bessemer, AL (Sent Wednesday, July 30, 2008 5:58 PM)

Bush's legacy won't be known for decades to come. History will show that he was a great President. Yeah Right!  When Pigs Fly!

Curtis, Tulsa, OK (Sent Wednesday, July 30, 2008 6:24 PM)

The bottom line here is the majority of the American people are stupid!  Our government knows that they can blatantly lie to us and the morons will get off their couch, pick-up a flag and believe.  The next time we error and pick a president that does not stand by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, lies about invading another country, drive our country into a depression, has a history of drinking...and the list goes on....DON'T VOTE HIM IN FOR A SECOND TERM...NO MATTER WHAT THE REASON...VOTE FOR THE OTHER GUY!!!

Bob, Sparks, NV (Sent Wednesday, July 30, 2008 7:44 PM)

In response to "Heather" (above), get a clue.  No good democratic candidate to run against Bush???  Have you forgotten the travesty that was the 2000 election??? Don't get me started!  GORE should have won that election, it would have taken the country in a totally different direction.  Having Bush as president makes me embarrassed to be American.  Having said THAT, Heather, I will rent this movie when I feel like watching a comedy, which is what Bush has done to American politics.

Julie, Buffalo, NY (Sent Wednesday, July 30, 2008 8:13 PM)

The good news is that W will finally be uncovered for at least some of his blunders and indescretions, and hopefully for some of the bush family horrors.
The bad news is republican conservative talk shows will try to use this film and its timing against the Democrats in their bid for the White House as a propaganda ploy; and it well may work.  The only people who this film might sway againt voting for the Republicans will be the Evangelicals, who blindly followed bush in both elections because of his lies about his pious beliefs. He lied to the Evangelicals.  If they can see what a rogue and hippocrit he is, then maybe there's hope for the Evangelicals.  For the Buschnazis, they will not watch the film, just as they refused to watch Michael Moore's F9/11, dismissing it as propaganda.

Gary/Houston TX (Sent Wednesday, July 30, 2008 8:20 PM)

Obviously this is not the place for legal nitty-gritty, but let us be clear in that any text, reegardless of its quasi-fictional inclinations, is liable to be scrutinized by the polis if it is based around the life of a living person (or even a recently deceased one). So Stone's film will have to walk a fine line between a Ray-esque biopic and a Primary-Colors-like satire, especially since satire is an acceptable and essentially libel/slander-free literary and filmic trope. In other words, let's give Stone and Co. a chance with their creation, and decide what we think once we've seen it. That's usually the way it goes with, you know, movies.

Dusty in Milford, ME (Sent Wednesday, July 30, 2008 8:59 PM)

To Scott from S.C. Please, you need to read something not written by Victor Davis Hanson. We are not in a better position "geopolitically" because we have invaded and then occupied Iraq. We attacked pre-emptively, a violation of every international standard. The war has weakened our position in Europe and the Arab world and left us alone. Iran! China and India are huge challenges, Iran can't bankrupt us in a few days, China can. We have lost 4.000 of our brothers and sisters, and gained $4 gas. great victory. Oh, guit playing Risk, think like an adult

M. Luce Kansas City (Sent Wednesday, July 30, 2008 9:17 PM)

Julie:  You're embarrassed to be an American?  Why don't hit the road and head to Canada?  I have one more question, why is it that liberals are always so much more extreme about their opinions?? All you ever hear is complaining about EVERYTHING, go get a job and help the economy instead of sitting around on your lazy asses waiting for people who made money to give it to you.

Ralph Rupert (Sent Thursday, July 31, 2008 10:40 AM)



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