W. - REVIEW

I finally saw it - the George W. Bush movie - and I lived to tell the tale. And to be perfectly frank, it's not anywhere near the trainwreck I thought it would be. Maybe that's because Oliver Stone, FOR ONCE, doesn't take a ridiculous slant to this project (as opposed to JFK), and even then, it STILL comes across as a factual Greek tragedy. Obviously a film about such a controversial (and very much alive) figure such as Bush is bound to sharply divide audiences, but even then, there's still going to be some middle ground; some gray area. This is where I fall. Though it's hard not to feel strangely....moved? touched? affected? by certain moments (especially in the latter half), there's something mildly squirm inducing about this film - I almost feel guilty for seeing it, and I have no idea why (I'm not exaggerating, I'm starting to feel slightly nauseous). It's not like this is a shamless celebration of Bush, nor is it an over the top bashing fest, yet the fact that most of the events in the film are either true or structured around generalized truths makes it somewhat odd to behold. All in all, it's probably too little too soon, but even so, it is an interesting piece. {I'll probably edit in more stuff, but I can bearly concentrate right now}

Grade: B-

Nominations: None

Number of 2008 films seen: 37

Oliver Stone's next politically charged film

The voices could use a little work, but it's still pretty funny.


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Final trailer for "W"

It would have been easier to watch had it not been for that godawful song in the background. Even so, it does look interesting to say the least.....

Final trailer for "W"

First clip from "W"

It actually looks alright....(and no, I'm not just saying that because of Elizabeth Banks)...

More "W" posters

what's ironic is that these are being posted in Denver, the site of this year's Democratic Convention.

New poster for "W"

Teaser for "W" has arrived!

And now for some thoughts on:

1. The movie overall:.....I can't tell....it's either going to be a good Primary Colors-esque semi satire, or it'll just be a huge misfire; It could look as though they rushed the project too much just to get it out in time for election year...

2. The Cast, as broken down by letter grades:

Josh Brolin as W: B

Elizabeth Banks as Laura Bush: B+

James Cromwell as Bush Sr. : C- (a good actor, but his face is just too strikingly different to make a believable Bush Sr.)

Ellen Burstyn as Barbara Bush: B

Toby Jones as Karl Rove: B+

Jeffrey Wright as Colin Powell: A-

Ioan Gruffud as Tony Blair: D+ (why couldn't they just get Michael Sheen?)

Thandie Newton as Condoleeza Rice: A+

Scott Glenn as Don Rumsfeld: B-

Richard Dreyfuss as Dick Cheney: B

Looks like Josh Brolin is now a method actor...

seriously, what better way to get into character as George W. Bush than this?

Source: yahoo news/associated press

SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) Police say actors Josh Brolin and Jeffrey Wright, along with members of a crew fiming an Oliver Stone movie, were arrested during a bar fight in Shreveport.

Shreveport police Sergeant Willie Lewis says Brolin, Wright and five others were arrested just after 2 a.m. Saturday at a club called the Stray Cat bar.

Lewis says a call to deal with a rowdy patron drew interference from other patrons.

The Times of Shreveport says Brolin was booked and posted $334 cash bond to be released. Police could not say Saturday whether he or the others had been released. The paper said they are part of the crew on an Oliver Stone film, "W," about President George W. Bush.

A call to Brolin's publicist was not immediately returned Saturday night.

Teaser poster for Oliver Stone's "W" (formerly "Bush")

Amazingly, the film has actually been bumped up from it's early 2009 release date, to October of this year. Judging by the poster, which is littered with "Bush-isms", I think it's safe to assume that this is supposed to be a "Charlie Wilson's War"-esque satire. Even so, I have no faith in this movie whatsoever; I'm still convinced it will be a massive train wreck...

first picture of Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Banks in "Bush" (2009)

I was left in shock when I heard that Oliver Stone was going to direct a film about our most recent president. How....HOW could the same man who screwed up Alexander the Great's story be allowed to touch someone so controversial as Dubya? Having read a few early pages of the script, it's hard to tell whether the film is supposed to be serious (uh oh), or a "Charlie Wilson's War" type black comedy (it could actually work this way). Here's the cover of Entertainment Weekly with Brolin and Banks as George and Laura. I have to admit, the makeup is impressive....