The attempt to make an empathic political satire failed.
Directed by Oliver Stone “W” tries to answer the all important question. Why did Bush go to war?
To answer this question Stone takes us back to Bush’s early days as a drinker, a juxtaposition to the sober man he is today.
Actor Josh Brolin plays a convincing ‘dubya’,but the rest of the cast falls short.
Given such a rich amount of mock material by the lame duck president, it seemed like fool-proof way to bring on the laughs.
No one was laughing. The theater was dead silent throughout the film and the punch lines become painfully obvious, yet no laughter ensued.
Lack of conncection
So where did the movie go wrong?
This question may have an ironic parallel to actual administrations problem. Bush’s cabinet.
The characters are too deeply involved with their own dialogue that they fail to connect with one another.
The film is a sequence of event where Codeleeza Rice and Karl Rove talk at, not to, the president.
Jokes only really take jabs at Bush’s intelligence and drinking. Subjects that have been made fun of at nausea by countless comedy shows.
“W” did have potential during the flash back sequences, however instead of trying to capture the essence of the future president, Stone decided to slip in a cheap, shot.
The film delivers nothing new and fresh about Bush. The audience is instead left with tired jokes that have them looking at their watch, more than the screen.
How dare you write this!! It’s an oscar-worthy film. Just kiddin, Stone really is getting worse as the years go by.