W

[civil]

Saw it tonight with the GF.

We were surprised at how sympathetic it made him out to be. But for both of us the truly sad part was having an audience laugh at our current president. Granted, this is Chicago which is as Blue as you get. And also neither of us is even remotely a fan of GWB. Still, it's a sad day for our country when our leader inspires such disrespect and chortling.

As a film it was standard Stone. Lots of melodrama interspersed with metaphysical mumbo jumbo that is meant to portray some sort of deeper meaning. Meh. But it was an interesting film, though I don't know how accurate it is. But if someone wanted to get a good view of our current president, all you'd really have to have done is travel outside of our country these past eight years. Good leadership does not inspire the sort of reactions and disdain he has.

It makes you feel for the man, really.

[Widgetcraft]

It's sad that the President is the focus of a comedy (not even a satire, a straight up comedy based on his life), even before his term is up. Still, I actually look forward to watching it; I had dismissed it early on, thinking that it was going to be anti-Republican propaganda, but I changed my mind once I started seeing clips of it.

[Whunpo]

I love the premise. I saw one of the ads. The part with him and the pretzel nearly had me rolling on the floor.
I really want to see it.

[Loki]

I dono. I have issues with movies like this. I am not a fan of GWB, but making a movie just to poke fun at him and not offer any thing else is...cheap. Oliver Stone seems to like to bank in some of the more 'easy' political targets to make money (W. and World Trade Center being the highlights) but offer nothing except for idiotic metaphyiscal deductions. I liked Nixon as it showed who Nixon was, warts and all. This just seems to be a get rich quick jab GWB and will ofer nothing but ego boosting for those that already dislike GWB.

[NoName]

We've been laughing at our current president for years now (that or cursing him).

I think a certain level of intelligence is required for being a respected president. W does not meet that level.

[civil]

It wasn't a comedy, and it wasn't satire. No, the saddest part was that the audience was laughing at actual lines muttered by GWB or situations he found himself in. Granted, Stone picked some doozies but it was balanced out (somewhat) but Stone's (at times) respectful treatment of the subject. Still, it's obvious that a film like this - being released when it is - comes with an agenda.

My ex-wife's family was (and still is, I assume) heavily entrenched with the Christian Right and was close with GWB. By all accounts, the religious aspects presented in the film were quite accurate, which as a Christian also made me sad. I think GWB (and the CR) has done so much to fuck up the public face of the faith that it will take generations to undo the damage done in terms of non-Christian's opinions and views of the faith.

Also, I can save anyone thinking of seeing the film $10 by summarizing the film in one sentence:

GWB spent his entire life trying to get either his human or spiritual father's approval and in doing so sent our country to the toilet.

[Generation ABXY]

We've been laughing at our current president for years now (that or cursing him).

I think a certain level of intelligence is required for being a respected president. W does not meet that level.

Perhaps, but I also tend to believe history may take a different view of the man than the one we have right now. Mind you, I have nothing to really back that up, just a feeling, so take that as you will. :p

[Suave Peanut]

Yeah, I saw this Friday night and I assure you it is not a "comedy."

I mostly enjoyed the film, with my only complaint being with the actors. Everybody, esp. Colin Powell, just looked too young! And Condi? Could they have found nobody in all of Hollywood that could act better than that stiff they hired? She almost broke the movie for me.

[TheEpicOfTyler]

I'm looking forward to seeing this. I really didn't want to see it if it was suppose to be some sort of joke, but all I'm hearing about it tells me that it's an interesting film. I've never seen any of Stone's other films so I didn't know what to expect, but the buzz that I've heard has been generally positive (outside a few people who expected it to be a comedy).

[pomeroy]

We were surprised at how sympathetic it made him out to be. But for both of us the truly sad part was having an audience laugh at our current president. Granted, this is Chicago which is as Blue as you get. And also neither of us is even remotely a fan of GWB. Still, it's a sad day for our country when our leader inspires such disrespect and chortling.

If I didn't laugh at W, I'd probably just cry.

[Chill]

Haven't seen the movie and have no plans on seeing it (just doesn't look interesting), but, did anyone see the interview with Stone on Colbert Report? Apparently, he thinks GWB is on his way to being great president, is of the opinion the US should invade Iran, Venezuela and Cuba, and loves Fox News. Odd.

[Sl1pstream]

It's sad that the President is the focus of a comedy (not even a satire, a straight up comedy based on his life), even before his term is up. Still, I actually look forward to watching it; I had dismissed it early on, thinking that it was going to be anti-Republican propaganda, but I changed my mind once I started seeing clips of it.

But that's the thing, it's not a comedy. It's about the relationship between W. and his father. The things that were actually funny came directly from reality, they weren't things Stone made up.

but making a movie just to poke fun at him and not offer any thing else is...cheap

There wasn't a single scene in the whole movie in which they made fun of him.

[Evewalker]

How was Dreyfus as Cheney? From what I saw in the previews, he's mannerisms were right on the mark.

[J Arcane]

Haven't seen the movie and have no plans on seeing it (just doesn't look interesting), but, did anyone see the interview with Stone on Colbert Report? Apparently, he thinks GWB is on his way to being great president, is of the opinion the US should invade Iran, Venezuela and Cuba, and loves Fox News. Odd.
He was having you on.

I loved that interview. I never would've expected Oliver Stone to be a perfect straight man, but that performance was epic.

[Maskatron]

How was Dreyfus as Cheney? From what I saw in the previews, he's mannerisms were right on the mark.

Yeah, Dreyfus was pretty good. I thought all the actors were good to great. The actress who played Condi in particular was pretty effective.

Honestly though, this movie is not really going to surprise anyone I think. If you're inclined to like Stone movies and dislike Bush, then you will definetly like this. But I agree with a lot of critics that said he probably should have waited a few years to have even more of a context for the events here. And the movie doesn't even go into Katrina, which I thought was pretty weird.

[AbeLincoln]

Yeah the Stone interview on Colbert was really good. He'd say something I was sure he really meant followed by something he couldn't possibly have meant and the delivery was the same for both. It was really amazing.

[Suave Peanut]

The actress who played Condi in particular was pretty effective.
Are you being sarcastic?

I could agree that the physical resemblance was there, but every time she said a line I cringed at the bad acting. She looked like she was reciting lines towards a wall, and the wall won.

[Abednigo]

I actually want to see this (a rental though, not in the theaters). I voted for W both times, and I think he's made a number of mistakes in recent years but I hate how vicious the hatred for him has been the last few years. But I bet he would be able to laugh at himself if he saw this movie. It looks very clever.

[J Arcane]

Are you being sarcastic?

I could agree that the physical resemblance was there, but every time she said a line I cringed at the bad acting. She looked like she was reciting lines towards a wall, and the wall won.
That sounds pretty spot on to me. Have you ever seen Condi speak?

[Maskatron]

Are you being sarcastic?



No. I thought it was a pretty good impression myself. It is a bit of a characture I'll admit, but no more so than Josh Brolin's performance. I think in the context of this film, it works.

[Suave Peanut]

That sounds pretty spot on to me. Have you ever seen Condi speak?

No. I thought it was a pretty good impression myself. It is a bit of a characture I'll admit, but no more so than Josh Brolin's performance. I think in the context of this film, it works.
I guess it's me, then. There was just something about her performance that seemed off to me.

And yes, I have seen her speak, dum-dum! :D

[Mike Kelehan]

We've been laughing at our current president for years now (that or cursing him).

Yes, about 232 years. That's why America's awesome.

[Lutheran]

I think Brolin nailed the part like no one else could have , seriously he was W.

[Schnoogs]

Yes, about 232 years. That's why America's awesome.

I hads to read your post twice but now I get it! ;)

[Stmfuller]

I don't understand the point of this movie and since I didn't vote for the guy either time, I have zero interest in watching it.
Dumbest movie of the year.

[VerseD]

I'll probably wait for the DVD on this one. The New York Times review made it sound like a serious, straight-forward biopic of George W, not satire or comedy. If you're going to make a movie about a current president, shouldn't it have a point?

[Schnoogs]

I don't understand the point of this movie and since I didn't vote for the guy either time, I have zero interest in watching it.
Dumbest movie of the year.

At least this guy is honest in admitting his opinion is completely baseless! :p