 W.
Directed by: Oliver Stone
Starring: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, Richard Dreyfuss, Toby
Jones and Thandie Newton
Oliver
Stone DVD Works
Bluntly
speaking? Oliver Stone delivers no shocking revelations
here; Bush is not the smokiest almond in the cabinet’s mixed
nut collection. In fact, disliking Bush as I do, the film had
me feeling bad for the guy more than relishing in his untruthiness
frankly.
Oliver,
um, this is way too domestic. PBS has more chutzpah! And you create
an unpleasant feeling; like hate for a "special" child.
Sir, you gave Bush - God forgive me - likeabilty. You've shown
Bush as nothing but an unintelligent ne' r do good with huge daddy
issues and a barrel of powerful chits. He uses dozens to create
a path to seven-chances success. The most horrific imagination
of his destination would never have included our precious White
House.
Story
goes…Young Polital offspring and Texan, George W. Bush,
is born into wealth and power. As a youth he samples life’s
edgier offerings. He can’t keep a job and loves the feeling
of Tennessee whiskey upon the tongue. He's a west-of-the-Missippi
Kennedy really.
Perpetually
in the shadow of a powerful father who makes his way to the top
of the political Vesuvius; The White House, George Bush (James
Cromwell), junior (aka W) rebels and anti-excels. That is until
W. kicks alcohol and finds God.
Then youngin' W.'s life starts to turn...he is headed head-on
to (almost by accident) a path to The White House himself. Shudder.
The
film takes viewers on a quick highlights tour of W.'s life. But
the man comes off as both strong - for being able to kick a couple
of his demons (alcoholism is a tricky devil to grapple to the
ground), and weak in the mind in so far as the way he allows himself
to be manipulated at every turn.
And
granted, George W.'s no country leader, heavens no,
but the film shows him as a Presidential puppet with Cheney’s
hand directly up his arse. Like he simply (no pun intended) was
misguided into the war and befuddled while allowed at the smart
kids' table.
The
Iraq war is the only big administration oops Stone concentrates
on.
The
actors do do a great job in wading through the poo-poo. In particular
Thandie Newton as Condelezza. What a creepy woman on so many levels.
I speak of the part, not the actor. Brolin's Bush is spot on.
Dreyfuss is good. But the evil doesn't really beacon through in
his Cheney - to me.
Stone's
presidential yarn comes across as mediocre, considering his abilities.
And his use of old Western music to accent the obvious points
and inordinate use of super close ups with Starsky and Hutch (the
’70s TV show version) effects make the running time seem
epic. Perhaps
it isn’t time for this? Or maybe the studio Orson Welles'd
Stone?
The
truths have not been uncovered. I mean the nauseating
truths. This has a few facts shaped into an obviously biased portrayal.
There’s no need to be biased. W. aint one of them thar city
slickin' a rocket scientists. That we all already knew. But 'W."
pulls no unexpected punches, nor does it shed any light on the
guy.
We
already knew daddy got him in the seat of power – with the
help of brother Jeb (ahem). We already knew he used to party;
what youngin doesn’t really. And tons of Americans go in
and out of jobs en route to maturity and finding themselves. This
man managed to find himself as President of the USA. That’s
a horror story that makes SAW look like a Disney expose on the
mentally disturbed. This is just long and annoying.
Wait
for rental on this.
Snack
recommendation: Lots of fatty Asian take away when you
rent it. The carbs will help keep your happy endorphins flowing
while your bile fights to rise to the surface.
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