> W
Directed by: Oliver Stone
Cast: Josh Brolin, Colin Hanks, Toby Jones, Dennis Boutsikaris, Jeffrey Wright, Thandie Newton, Scott Glenn, Richard Dreyfuss, James Cromwell.
Rating: (M) Movie reviews
3 stars (out of 5)
Reviewed by Mark Orton
For nearly a decade, almost every aspect of Dubya's life has been inspected by the media, so how much can we gain from a biopic? Bush ancestry, alcoholism and born-again Christianity are all dwelt on.
But it is employment failure and early political defeats that speak volumes when evaluating how George W. Bush came to be the most powerful figure on the planet.
Oliver Stone's amusing appraisal of the Bush inner sanctum and the fictionalised account of Dubya's fractious relationship with his dad, are curious, if not artistic licence.
Fantastically cast, Scott Glenn (Donald Rumsfeld), and Richard Dreyfuss (Dick Cheney) not only look the part, they encapsulate media personas relentlessly pawed over for the past decade.
The alarmingly believable caricatures are only let down by Thandie Newton, who never grasps the nuances of Condoleezza Rice.
Josh Brolin (Bush) may not have the simian likeness of his character, but with a little touch of grey, some high-waisted pants and a convincing accent, he gets Bush mannerisms down pat.
Given the chance to tell the story of one of the world's most loathed politicians, Stone uncharacteristically leaves his edge at home.
Critics will accuse W of eliciting unjustified sympathy for Dubya, while supporters will cry foul. What we are left with is a serialised portrait of an imbecile with far too much responsibility. Kind of what was known already.
Best thing: Josh Brolin's hell-raising good-old-boy Bush. If only he hadn't found God.
Worst thing: Not going for the jugular. Where is a critique of Dubya's stance on the death penalty?
See it with: Entertainment in mind; W is not a critical political evaluation.
