Josh Brolin gives an excellent performance as President George W Bush, as does Richard Dreyfuss as Vice-President Dick Cheney and a handful of others. Other roles seemed a bit miscast or misplayed. James Cromwell is a fine actor but bears little resemblance to President George H.W. Bush, and Thandie Newton (whom I also admire) gives National Security Adviser Condie Rice a cartoonishly nasal voice.
The hit-and-miss qualities of the casting and acting also provide some problems in the script. Past critics of Oliver Stone (who directed but did not write this script) may be surprised at how soft the film is on our lame-duck Prez. While it gives a quick mention of several personal problems in his early adult life (borderline academic performance, the Texas Air National Guard issue, getting a girl pregnant before meeting Laura, etc.), and there are some compelling scenes involving the relationship of George W. Bush's trouble relationship with his father and jealousy over the latter's admiration for brother Jeb. However, Bush as president is characterized as more aware and in-charge than one might expect from the choice of directors.
Stone and writer Stanley Weiser give no mention of intelligence manipulation or of allegations of plans to invade Iraq existing prior to 9/11. There is no mention of widespread protests before and after the invasion. There is no mention of the questions of legality under the United Nations Charter. This film's sole focus in the presidential years of George W Bush is on Iraq policy, so why didn't it take the time to really dig into the controversies? See W. if you must, but wait for it to show up on basic cable. It shouldn't take too long.
The hit-and-miss qualities of the casting and acting also provide some problems in the script. Past critics of Oliver Stone (who directed but did not write this script) may be surprised at how soft the film is on our lame-duck Prez. While it gives a quick mention of several personal problems in his early adult life (borderline academic performance, the Texas Air National Guard issue, getting a girl pregnant before meeting Laura, etc.), and there are some compelling scenes involving the relationship of George W. Bush's trouble relationship with his father and jealousy over the latter's admiration for brother Jeb. However, Bush as president is characterized as more aware and in-charge than one might expect from the choice of directors.
Stone and writer Stanley Weiser give no mention of intelligence manipulation or of allegations of plans to invade Iraq existing prior to 9/11. There is no mention of widespread protests before and after the invasion. There is no mention of the questions of legality under the United Nations Charter. This film's sole focus in the presidential years of George W Bush is on Iraq policy, so why didn't it take the time to really dig into the controversies? See W. if you must, but wait for it to show up on basic cable. It shouldn't take too long.