'W.' doesn't answer questions
By Bruce R. Millerbmiller@siouxcityjournal.com | Posted: Friday, October 24, 2008
Josh Brolin plays George Bush in "W."
A film about George W. Bush? Why? Why now?
That's the question that's never answered in Oliver Stone's new drama "W."
Loosely chronicling the life of the current president, Stone's biography suggests Bush (Josh Brolin) was largely motivated by his desire to win dad's respect. Brother Jeb (who's barely seen) is the golden boy, the Dick Smothers to his Tommy. He decides to run for governor of Florida and George Sr. (James Cromwell) is thrilled. W. says he's going to run in Texas and dad says "hold off."
It's an interesting theory but, like most of Stone's political work, we're never sure of the authenticity.
Still, if you view this as a piece of fiction, it's easier to take -- particularly when the president is talking to his cabinet. The actors who play all the president's men (and woman) are sharp caricatures -- the type you find on "Saturday Night Live." Richard Dreyfuss comes close to approximating Dick Cheney and Jeffrey Wright is OK as Colin Powell. But Thandie Newton is an embarrassment as Condoleezza Rice. All teeth and tics, she hardly reminds us of the woman who's practically a regular on Sunday morning news shows.
Elizabeth Banks is good as wife Laura and Ellen Burstyn does her best to suggest Bush's mom Barbara. Like "SNL," "W." is a mixed bag of acting.
Obviously Stone chose moments to sting. (There's a pretzel-choking scene that's obviously pointed.) But Brolin doesn't let parody get in the way of a good performance. If you can believe it, he creates a sympathetic W. (Dad, you may remember, played Ronald Reagan in "The Reagans.") Quick, simple and religious, Brolin's W. is an honest man who's constantly swimming upstream. When Cheney oversteps his bounds, he has to remind him who's president. Determined to put a winning face on war, those president's men seek a source that can justify their position. W., meanwhile, is oblivious to the machinations.
Some of the fantasy sequences -- often in a ballpark -- ring true. But, with Stone, it's never certain what he's pitching.
The film, as a result, neither skewers nor praises. It comes at an odd time, too. With months left to Bush's presidency, it's not exactly a wakeup call or a valedictory. It's just there.
Because sketch shows do such a great job of keeping politicians in check on a weekly basis, they're actually superior to something like this. To assess something as big as a two-term presidency, a director needs distance.
Stone doesn't even back up. "W." is a lot like a door-to-door campaign on election day: Too little, too late.
Rated PG-13, "W." features some adult talk and violence.
On a scale of four stars, it gets:
2 stars
That's the question that's never answered in Oliver Stone's new drama "W."
Loosely chronicling the life of the current president, Stone's biography suggests Bush (Josh Brolin) was largely motivated by his desire to win dad's respect. Brother Jeb (who's barely seen) is the golden boy, the Dick Smothers to his Tommy. He decides to run for governor of Florida and George Sr. (James Cromwell) is thrilled. W. says he's going to run in Texas and dad says "hold off."
It's an interesting theory but, like most of Stone's political work, we're never sure of the authenticity.
Still, if you view this as a piece of fiction, it's easier to take -- particularly when the president is talking to his cabinet. The actors who play all the president's men (and woman) are sharp caricatures -- the type you find on "Saturday Night Live." Richard Dreyfuss comes close to approximating Dick Cheney and Jeffrey Wright is OK as Colin Powell. But Thandie Newton is an embarrassment as Condoleezza Rice. All teeth and tics, she hardly reminds us of the woman who's practically a regular on Sunday morning news shows.
Elizabeth Banks is good as wife Laura and Ellen Burstyn does her best to suggest Bush's mom Barbara. Like "SNL," "W." is a mixed bag of acting.
Obviously Stone chose moments to sting. (There's a pretzel-choking scene that's obviously pointed.) But Brolin doesn't let parody get in the way of a good performance. If you can believe it, he creates a sympathetic W. (Dad, you may remember, played Ronald Reagan in "The Reagans.") Quick, simple and religious, Brolin's W. is an honest man who's constantly swimming upstream. When Cheney oversteps his bounds, he has to remind him who's president. Determined to put a winning face on war, those president's men seek a source that can justify their position. W., meanwhile, is oblivious to the machinations.
Some of the fantasy sequences -- often in a ballpark -- ring true. But, with Stone, it's never certain what he's pitching.
The film, as a result, neither skewers nor praises. It comes at an odd time, too. With months left to Bush's presidency, it's not exactly a wakeup call or a valedictory. It's just there.
Because sketch shows do such a great job of keeping politicians in check on a weekly basis, they're actually superior to something like this. To assess something as big as a two-term presidency, a director needs distance.
Stone doesn't even back up. "W." is a lot like a door-to-door campaign on election day: Too little, too late.
Rated PG-13, "W." features some adult talk and violence.
On a scale of four stars, it gets:
2 stars
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 0 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
