W.

I haven't seen it. I guess it's nice to see that people are receiving it well, but I can't really get past the tackiness of it all. Bothers me that they've released a highly fictionalized version of a president while he's still in office, regardless of what I think of the guy's policies.

I might see it eventually, but because I'm more interested in Elizabeth Banks's performance than anything else.

Saw it tonight. It was good but was a little too long. Josh Brolin did really well -- sounded just like W. and did the mannerisms without coming off as an impersonation. It may actually get him an Oscar nod. Elizabeth Banks did well too, especially as the older Laura Bush. The rest of the cast is good -- didn't even recognize Thandie Newton; they had her fixed up just like Condi.

Fictional or not, I think it gives an interesting interpretation and insight into what made W. W. The shadows he's lived under Sr. and Jeb., how he wanted to prove himself to be worthy of his own legacy, etc. I do think part of it is at least based on documented facts and not total fiction. Obviously, the screenwriters are not privy to what happened because closed doors, but I think there's enough material from the last 30 years to go by -- there's a lot known about the Bush family.

But I agree with kuwi in that the film makes GW a sympathetic figure. Not an evil man some may want to paint him. In fact, I'll have to give Mr. Stone some kudos for having the restraints. It seems like he may have mellowed a bit as far as political dramas are concerned.

But boy, is the movie long. They could have cut out at least half an hour.

I am looking forward to seeing it. I hear you either come out with a bit of empathy for W, or you come out thinking he is stupider than he seems to be. (Both crits come from very left wing people, so it depends). I am interested in seeing how Cheney gets in. I heard Richard Dryfus, and the cast of characters are excellent.

I like Brolin and Wright is one of my favorite actors period...yet I have no interest in this movie.

I am more interested in the court case involving Wright being tasered in a bar at the wrap party.

I am glad it's been pretty well received, and is considered surprisingly sympathetic. However, there are some people I just don't want to watch movies about, and he is one of them. I do LOVE Jeffrey Wright, though. I didn't hear about him being tased!

I do think Stone glossed over W's life and ambitions, etc. despite the length of the film -- he spent WAY too much time on the events leading to the Iraq War, which struck me as a bit propagandaish. However, he portrays W as a more dimensional, internally hurt person that we usually don't see... someone who actually has his heart in the right place; just not good judgments. So I think that's rather significant, and that's why we don't see a lot of Republicans protesting the film and it's doing pretty well across the country right now. I think Josh Brolin has really arrived (it's not like he wasn't good in some of his previous movies, No Country for Old Men, for example).

maestrowork said:

he portrays W as a more dimensional, internally hurt person that we usually don't see... someone who actually has his heart in the right place; just not good judgments. So I think that's rather significant, and that's why we don't see a lot of Republicans protesting the film

Click to expand...

That's very true. But I can't help but wonder what the reaction would have been if the very same movie had been released 4 years ago.

What's annoying was the two elderly ladies sitting behind me. They kept talking! Even after I shushed them a few times. At one point, when W. and H. were both on screen (I think it's a scene after H. won the Presidency), they both yelled really loud for the whole theater to hear: "They are the worst presidents!" Everyone just chuckled. What could you do? You couldn't ask these old ladies to leave...

I would have. Or I would have gotten the theater manager.

I saw An American Carol (just awful), so I guess I'll see this, but I'm quite dubious that I'll find it very good. Likely, not much sex...

robeiae said:

I would have. Or I would have gotten the theater manager.

Click to expand...

Yeah. I don't play that shit. Old lady or not, shut your cake-cave when the movie's on...

It was more sympathetic, and ambitious, than I expected. But Bush seems like such an idiot throughout the movie and then, oh, he becomes president and i just felt like something was missing.

I just saw it and thought it was great, and indeed, a Greek tragedy would be a great way to call it. And I do agree is way too long.

I thought Josh Brolin was magnificent - there were a few times during the movie, I had a "Oh, this is only a movie!" moment where I abruptly realized I wasn't watching the real W. I've never had an actor capture a character so perfectly that I forgot I was watching a movie.

It didn't really change my feeling toward the real-life W., but I enjoyed it anyway.