W.

[MacGuffin]

Lionsgate has set Oliver Stone's W. for release on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on 2/10, including director's commentary, deleted scenes and 2 featurettes (Dangerous Dynasty: The Bush Presidency and No Stranger to Controversy: Oliver Stone's George W. Bush).

[cinemanarchist]

I dig that cover art and wish had more of a desire to see the movie again. Commentary makes it at least worth a Netflix.

[hedwig]

i sit like george bush.

[cinemanarchist]

i sit like george bush.

Fascist.

[Gold Trumpet]

I've seen this a few more times and I further liked the film as a filmed drama. Stone's best filmmaking comes in the small moments between the actors in scenes that would have been filmed straight by anyone else, but Stone's camera always wonderfully captures the corner of the screen to notice moments in other actors or things that add layers to the meaning of the scene.

The film has multiple characters that are famous, but the film shows little interest in most of them. Some critics are attacking the film for not making true characters out of Bush's henchmen, but like I said before, the film is a smaller work for Stone. JFK and Nixon were epics not only in length, but also structure. They took on subjects on numerous levels. There is multiplicity to W., but it exists only within Dubya himself. A film like the Doors was also about just Jim Morrison. It hardly defined other members of the band even though the title suggested it should.

A note against the film is the dream sequences. It is variations of Bush standing alone in a baseball field. I don't think the scenes were necessary because they paint ideas that were already conveyed well enough in previous scenes. Plus the lack of variety to them isn't good. The metaphorical fight Bush has with his father in the oval office is a lot better, but the film definited its tone and structure with the realistic scenes. Most of the dream sequences seemed like Stone being characteristically himself with the filmmaking when he didn't need to be. This was a transitional work for Stone so the entire film should have reflected it.

One scene I do like when looking back is the walk along the dirt road Bush and his advisors go on. The walk seems to go on forever and with no purpose. Certain shots of everyone walking in stride hopelessly to nothing reminded me of Luis Bunuel's Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoise, specifically the continuous repititions of the scenes were the dinner party is walking together and to nowhere in particular. They all seemed lost in their own world. Stone referencing this makes thematic sense. Besids, it's believable that the homage was conscience. Stone has said that Luis Bunuel was one of his favorite filmmakers.

[cron]

still haven't seen it, but i already made a version in my mind where the ending of the presidency and the movie is bush being thrown a pair of shoes. he makes a little joke after being protected by the NSA guys and then asks for a moment of privacy, walks to the mirror and has a little   howard hughes -the aviator - dirk diggler boogie nights moment.  that incident was one of those fantastic cases of life becoming art. kudos to oliver stone for setting the tone in which bush jr's presidency will be remembered in books.

[Pwaybloe]

What the hell, cron?

I watched this yesterday and really enjoyed it.  The first half drug a little bit, but it picked up the pace once the movie focused in on the White House gang.  GT, I picked up on that "Discreet" nod during the Crawford Ranch hike too.  That was probably my favorite scene.  I didn't feel that the caricatures were over the top like others thought around here.  Newton's portrayal was a little awkward, but not distracting.

The movie had a nice balance of comedy, drama, and terror; an efficient morality play on the abuse of power.   

[MacGuffin]

Oliver Stone On Why He Was 'Lucky to Survive' Bush Biopic 'W'
Source: MTV

He's made movies about pornographers and serial killers, tortured 'Nam soldiers and tortured 'Nam vets, assassinated presidents and disgraced presidents. But to hear Oliver Stone tell it, his last film might have been his riskiest.

"I'm lucky to have survived," the Oscar-winning director told MTV on the eve of the DVD release of 2008's George Bush biopic "W." "It was a movie that was dangerous to make." What could be risky about depicting a sitting president, dramatizing events still fresh—and sometimes painful—in viewers' minds and hustling crazily to release the film less than a month before the election? Oh, right. "It could have gotten killed," Stone went on. "We survived the onslaught."

In fact, that onslaught turned out far different than anyone imagined. When news of the project first surfaced, talk among pundits, politicos and film fans centered on how thoroughly the famously liberal director would trash the president's already tarnished image. But once the film hit theaters, Stone said, "If anything, people criticized it for being fair."

All this focus on Bush-the-film-character obscured the larger point Stone was trying to communicate. "People are saying, 'I hate Bush,' 'I love Bush,'" he said. "Who cares? The whole point is where is the American mentality at? We feel entitled to dominate the world." He points to a crucial scene late in the movie in which the Cabinet is discussing a possible war against Iran—and, implicitly, the expansion of the American empire—as the true centerpiece of the film.

But the title is "W," not "American Empire," and inevitably the film's critical reception would hinge on the strength of Josh Brolin's portrayal of the 43rd president. Brolin threw himself into the role, quitting drinking for eight months and often staying in character on set. The critics were kind, but he was ignored during awards season. "I wish he had gotten more attention," said the director. "It's a valid piece of work. It's not dripping with hate, which I think is good in the long run."

Oscar voters may not have taken notice of Brolin as Bush, but did Bush himself take notice of Brolin? "I can tell you from two reliable sources that he did see it," said Stone. "He apparently liked Josh Brolin. I asked this high source who knows both the father and son very well if they think I had the Oedipal connection down. He thinks it's pretty accurate."

While "W" ends in 2004, leaving an entire four-year term unexplored, Stone has no plans to make "W, Part II." "The seeds of the man are laid in how he becomes an emperor," said the director. "He says it all with Iraq. There's no point in going into all the misdeeds. There's not much growth of character there."

Stone may not be revisiting Bush and Co. again, but that doesn't mean the former president will be out of his life forever. "I think he's laughing now," says Stone. "I don't think this guy is going into the sunset with any doubts. I think he's going to be a force in the opposition. Those guys will be around in different shapes and sizes, in Sarah Palin disguises. They're here to haunt us."

[Neil]

I just finished this, and i wish i didn't have to be at work in five minutes. All i really have the time to type is, i really enjoyed that ending. 


****Spoiler****



Blinded by the lights on a routine pop-fly. Nice.

[Alexandro]

I think finally me and GT can agree on a film in pretty much every respect. Totally got the chamber drama vibe from the moment it started, thinking it was odd that the only main credits were the star, the writer and the director.

It really works as a drama but then again the irony of W. never really achieving his one goal of being taken seriously by his father turns it into a kind of morbid comedy.

I really liked the cinematography and the whole visual design of the film, you can tell a true master is behind this from start to finish. I agree with the comment about the score being kind of a rushed effort. The song selections were better and they should have kept it like that.

I don't get at all the "impersonations" comments. Didn't notice anything, didn't get annoyed by anything. Thandie Newton was ok.

With Nixon, Stone was making not only an epic of one man's soul but also a study of power and of the times the film took place in it, of AMERICA, if you will. Nixon was a reflexion of what was going on around him. W. is just this guy who has to be in the shadow of his father forever and can't even receive a film titled Bush because he would be confused with him. The last shot of the film is brilliant.

[Gold Trumpet]

Enjoyed the idea Bush probably would have liked this movie. Very gratified that he really did. Very funny Bush's elaboration is that he thought there were sad moments.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/t-magazine/02well-cover.html?scp=4&sq=oliver%20stone&st=cse

NYT: I think you're the only person who has portrayed a president while he was still in office. Before or after filming, did you ever meet George Bush?

Brolin: No, but somebody came up to me during the "Milk" premiere and said, "W's seen 'W.'— George has seen your movie." Then Oliver Stone, the director of "W.," ran into Bill Clinton in China. Clinton told Oliver that he had loaned Bush his DVD copy of "W." He said W liked it very much. He said W thought there were sad moments.

[Reinhold]

also in that article, he says he finds megan fox less attractive than richard jenkins:

And, now, in "Jonah Hex," you have your first-ever nude sex scene, with Megan Fox.

Richard is much more attractive to me than Megan Fox! Was I nude in "Jonah Hex"? I guess it was my first nude sex scene. Megan was very nervous. I was nervous. The sex scene is pretty risqué and nerve-racking. It's hard to act when you're naked.

[Neil]

also in that article, he says he finds megan fox less attractive than richard jenkins:

And, now, in "Jonah Hex," you have your first-ever nude sex scene, with Megan Fox.

Richard is much more attractive to me than Megan Fox! Was I nude in "Jonah Hex"? I guess it was my first nude sex scene. Megan was very nervous. I was nervous. The sex scene is pretty risqué and nerve-racking. It's hard to act when you're naked.

I don't know what this means.  But, i were W. and I watched this film about my shitty docile life, I would get sad in places too.

Post script: I act naked all the time.