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W.
Directed by: Oliver Stone
Starring: Josh Brolin
Genre:
Drama
Run Time: 129
min.
Release Date:
October 2008
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
Compared to other Oliver
Stone biographical dramas, I’d have to say that W. is a bit of a
letdown. Take a look at THE DOORS, NIXON, and JFK
and you’ll see what I mean. Those were done with an extreme eye toward
both sides of their issues. Whereas W. feels very lopsided and
not just a tad caricature-ish. No one will ever know what really
happened on the inside of George W. Bush’s secretive administration, but
all Stone delivers is a news media version of what most of us already
know, giving us the same stagnant news all Americans have heard over the
past eight, tortuous years.
But what I can’t deny is Josh Brolin’s George W. performance. Brolin
captured my attention recently with his amazing character in
NO COUNTRY
FOR OLD MEN. And here in W. (although the story was
lacking), Brolin really brought W. to life on the silver screen better
than anyone I could’ve ever imagined. The other notable performance
comes from Richard Dreyfuss (POSEIDON) as Dick Cheney. Although I didn’t
like the fact that we saw Dreyfuss far too little because I believe (as
do many Americans) that Cheney was the power behind the last eight years
of the U.S.’s life and war-torn demise.
I had trouble, too, picturing the rest of the cast in their respective
roles. James Cromwell (BECOMING JANE) as George Senior just didn’t grab
me. Nor did Elizabeth Banks (THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN) as Laura Bush, and
Ellen Burstyn (THE FOUNTAIN) as Barbara Bush. Thandie Newton’s (THE
PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS) portrayal of Condolezza Rice was far too nasal
(and annoying) and even Scott Glenn (FREEDOM WRITERS) whom I normally
love in just about every role he’s ever played, I found completely
unappealing as a rather weak Donald Rumsfeld.
Perhaps the story is too fresh in our minds, so a lapse in time might
help serve this story better should another film about George W’s life
be made. And maybe by then more secrets surrounding W.’s administration
will have leaked out and give us some fresh insights. But, as this film
now stands, it’s pretty much old hat with at least strong performances
from Brolin and Dreyfuss.
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Image from W.
DVD cost: $25.71
Purchase:
Tower.com (Blu-Ray)
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy: When
W. enters the Oval Office at the end, there's a portrait of John Quincy
Adams hanging above his head. Adams is the only other son of a former
President to be elected President.
Movie Quote: "Fool
me once, shame on you. Fool me... and won't get fooled again."
Other Actors/Actresses
from W.
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