I sort of hate the trend of making a movie about a historical event that's happened so recently that we lack the distance and perspective that would allow us to look back and really examine it, but who am I to question Oliver Stone on his decision to make W., right? Well, I might be no one, but I am still going to question the film, because ... first of all, did we really need a movie about George W. Bush? I mean, is there anyone in the world who wants to sit in a theater for three hours and watch a film about that? Also, Josh Brolin as Bush seems like really strange casting choice to me, unless he's much older or Bush is much younger than I think. I get that the tagline is "Anybody can grow up to be president," so it's probably about his younger life and all that, but it still annoys me. And that tagline annoys me too, because Bush isn't exactly "Anybody," what with his president father and governor brother. And can I just ask: What is with the period in the title? I get that it would be there if you wrote out his name, but it's weird how much the focus is on it. For example, on the official site, they put a period after everything: "Trailer." "About the film." "Cast and crew." Is that some sort of symbolic thing I am too dumb (or apolitical) to get? As for that trailer, well, it makes it look like the movie might be equal parts jabs at Bush's presidential fumbles (Bushisms, mostly) and a cynical look at his past (no doubt his frat-boy, draft-dodging past certainly wouldn't be worthy of a film if he weren't president). Other than the divine choice to cast James Cromwell as the first President Bush, though, they sure prettied up the rest of the real-life people here: Elizabeth Banks as Laura Bush is ridiculous. Ellen Burstyn as Barbara? Yeah, Barbara wishes. And Thandie Newton as Condoleezza Rice? I don't know what Stone and the casting folks were smoking when these decisions made, but may I please have some?

Reviews By People Who've Actually Seen It:

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