By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 1.5 cats
Director: Oliver Stone
Starring: Elizabeth Banks | Ellen Burstyn | James Cromwell | Jeffrey Wright | Josh Brolin | Richard Dreyfuss | Scott Glenn
Country: australia, germany, hong_kong, united_kingdom, united_states
Year: 2008
Running time: 131
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1175491/
Bruce says: “W. works as a conversation piece; were the film hilarious, educational or consciousness raising in any way, it would have redeeming qualities. There is no apparent reason to make such a film and no reason to see it. The average viewer no doubt will already know almost everything the film brings to the table about weapons of mass destruction; George W.’s belief that God wanted him to run for President; and George W.’s obsession with finishing the job that his father failed to complete, that of wiping out Saddam Huessin.
“The narrative line of the film centers on the decision to invade Iraq. Initially it appears that there might be some revelations before the film is over but they never materialize. Flashbacks over several decades, tell us all about George W.’s serious drinking problem, his floundering in the business world, his low self-esteem, and his need to please his father. In the absence of a point of view, W. is merely a character assassination.
“To be honest I did find several things mildly amusing. Karl Rove at times does resemble Truman Capote (no surprise considering Toby Jones who plays Karl Rove played Capote in INFAMOUS.) When George W. winks at the audience during a speech, Sarah Palin is suddenly reduced in status to that of mere copycat. During a heated family argument George W. says to his father ‘I’ve had enough of you for a lifetime.’ Jeb then tells his parents that George W. has been admitted to Harvard Business School. Barbara turns to her husband and tells him he is too harsh on his son considering he just got into Harvard. George Says to Barbara, ‘Of course he got in. Who do you think pulled the strings?’
“W. could easily have been titled THE IMPERSONATION PROJECT. Almost every character in the film is a household name or, if not, has a vaguely familiar ring. There are lots of contestants: Condaleeza Rice, Colin Powell, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, Dick Cheney, Laura Bush, Karl Rove, Barbara Bush, George Tenet, Tommy Franks, Paul Bremer, and George H. W. Bush. As for the winner – it’s a tie!! Richard Dreyfuss does a great Dick Cheney and Jeffrey Wright is a very good Colin Powell. (Now that Tina Fey has set the standard for political impersonation, everyone in W. seems a bit lame.) I cannot understand why all the fuss over Josh Brolin. Curiously, his description of his impersonation of George W. Bush on Saturday Night Live was much better than his performance in this film. 1.5 cats”