At the Risk of Over-Selling Stone's 'W.'

[Russ Fischer]

http://chud.com/articles/articles/16...039/Page1.html

[Renn Brown]

Wow. Don't know what else to say.

[Bitches Leave]

Nah this guy seems kind of smart and charming! Not the Bush I'm used to seeing.

[Jake]

Okay, that sold me on it way more than the teaser trailer.

[El Gray]

I can't get the clip to play in either browser. D'oh.

[Russ Fischer]

Direct link: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/sho...clip.lionsgate

[James Kimbell]

I like it. A whole movie of that will either be unbearably weird or a lot of fun.

[Bozz]

Originally Posted by Russ Fischer

Direct link: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/sho...clip.lionsgate

Won't play either. The ads at their site play just fine, though.

[Shen Annigans]

Well that was awesome? I'm at a loss for actually anticipating this. Brolin looks stellar.

[Casey Moore]

I didn't think I would get excited for this movie, but the trailer and now this clip are doing the job. Brolin looks damn good.

[The Mechanic]

Its so hard for me to see these character as real human beings. That said, I just want this to be a win for Brolin.

[Arjen Rudd]

I think this is my most anticipated Fall movie. Wha?

[Francis Wolcott]

Yeah, I'm as shocked as all of you at my "holyshit I want to see that" reaction.

[AnalanoWally]

I spent alot of time in Texas as a teenager when Dubya was Gov. and something that no one seems to remember about George was he used to be a real charismatic guy, he was a peoples person who brought alot of divided politics together in Texas...

Then of course it all fell on its head in the white house, but I am VERY excited to see that Stone is true to the fact that George was a basically cool guy who became mislead by family and the Washington system.

[Greg Clark]

Originally Posted by AnalanoWally

I spent alot of time in Texas as a teenager when Dubya was Gov. and something that no one seems to remember about George was he used to be a real charismatic guy, he was a peoples person who brought alot of divided politics together in Texas...

The governor of Texas is basically a figurehead with little real power. All he had to do, really, was be charismatic and likable. Once he had to, y'know, handle a job that required brains and know-how, well, that wasn't enough.

[Shen Annigans]

Originally Posted by AnalanoWally

I spent alot of time in Texas as a teenager when Dubya was Gov. and something that no one seems to remember about George was he used to be a real charismatic guy, he was a peoples person who brought alot of divided politics together in Texas...

Then of course it all fell on its head in the white house, but I am VERY excited to see that Stone is true to the fact that George was a basically cool guy who became mislead by family and the Washington system.

If I leave this film with some sympathy for Bush I will never doubt anything from ever happening.

[Chris Olson]

Awesome. Really looking forward to this one.

[Erik Wacker]

Brolin really makes this work. He comes off so charming and cool here while also still feeling like the Bush we've all come to know.

This is slowly but surely rising up my anticipated films list.

[Nabster]

I am definetly excited to see this film, but Brolin doesn't channel Bush in that clip imo, it could be because of the massive disparity in their looks.

[Name_user]

What I hope Stone emphasizes is that it's not Bush being "stupid" that got us into the mess we're in now, but because his administration were just so cold and calculating.

[Dax]

I guess ditching the alcohol and blow for Jesus is what ruined him.

[InTheShadows]

Really liked that clip. I was probably going to see it at some point during its theatrical release, but now I might be there opening weekend.

Maybe this movie won't suck....wow.

Originally Posted by Name_user

What I hope Stone emphasizes is that it's not Bush being "stupid" that got us into the mess we're in now, but because his administration were just so cold and calculating.

I think anyone with half a brain realizes which people were really pulling the strings behind the scenes. You just have to listen to Bush speak for a couple minutes to come to that conclusion.

[Jesse Custer]

Originally Posted by Name_user

What I hope Stone emphasizes is that it's not Bush being "stupid" that got us into the mess we're in now, but because his administration were just so cold and calculating.

You don't think that maybe it was both?

My biggest fear regarding this film is that it will, in the pop-cultural sense, absolve Bush of the eight years of decisions he either participated in or simply allowed to happen (depending on your viewpoint).

Either way, the man is not simply some doofus Forrest Gump of far-right politics that, aw shucks, 'jes' happens to rub up aginst some mighty pow'ful folk'. He deserves to bear responsibility for the actions of his administration.

That said, this looks more entertaining than it has any real right to be given how sore I am over this misbegotten Presidency.

[kingcujoI]

When I lived in DC, anyone I knew who had met Bush and talked a little bit with him in person described him exactly like this. He was charismatic, witty and seemed rather intelligent.

Of course most people have only been treated to the buffoon who can't speak on camera or in front of a crowd without tripping over himself. So likely this movie just won't connect with them.

[RCA]

This movie is going to be awesome. Period.

[BillyG]

Definitely nailed the pre-Oval Office Bush persona we experienced during his stint as Rangers exec and Governor. My expectations are ridiculously high.

[AdamLemnah]

I think this looks amazing. Oliver Stone is always at the top of his game covering the lives of major political figures. He needs a broad canvas, and in the cases of Nixon and JFK, pulls both off amazingly. I think that this film is going to be interesting no matter how it falls, but the thing that most intrigues me is that this is the first political film he's made without Robert Richardson behind the camera. What does this say about how the film is going to look? Phedon Papamichael (say that in your best GW Bush voice for the pure fun of it) has shot some really beautiful films - Mousehunt, Identity, Walk the Line, Sideways, 3:10 to Yuma - and some boring ones as well - Biodome and Pursuit of Happiness come to mind - so, i think it'll be really interesting to see how different even the LOOK of this film is with the other two in Stone's political trilogy.

[Bill Brasky]

Originally Posted by kingcujoI

When I lived in DC, anyone I knew who had met Bush and talked a little bit with him in person described him exactly like this. He was charismatic, witty and seemed rather intelligent.

Of course most people have only been treated to the buffoon who can't speak on camera or in front of a crowd without tripping over himself. So likely this movie just won't connect with them.

That's just it. He is a charismatic and charming guy by all accounts, and if that's all it took to be President, he would've been great. Unfortunately, the hubris (and stupidity) he's displayed in the face of the war that his own administration engineered will be what defines him. Still looking forward to this, looks entertaining, to say the least.

[Bancroft Agee]

Jim Jones had charisma.


I just can't separate my bias towards the man to confidently evaluate this picture on it's merits alone. Comparing it to Stone's Nixon, which is Shakespearean in its presentation of the downfall of a man at the height of power due to his own greed and paranoia, is a reach for me. Nixon, while capable of great evil, was a man of humble origins who could never let go of the notion he was never seen as "good enough" to be someone of stature, influence or power despite his obvious intelligence and ability to rise without factors of breeding or birth.


There was a Vanity Fair (I think) piece from the late 90's early 00's when Bush was campaigning that detailed Bush's days leading up to his rise in Texas politics. The thing that I took away from it was the scene of Bush riding around in a car with his cronies, laughing, as he picked out the houses and properties he was going to seize through the imminent domain authority they were granted for the Ballpark at Arlington.

A man that callous, who would find enjoyment at seizing the property of others for nothing more than real estate speculation to make himself and his pals rich, is man that I would call slime without the slightest hint of reservation. Any redeeming qualities he may have are superseded by his actions and his nature; that of a spoiled, conniving elitist weasel who profited immensely by exploiting people.

[Doc Happenin]

...is it too late to vote for Josh Brolin playing George W as president?

[mr_adam]

W are good enough.