W. (2008)
Average Rating: 6/10
Reviews Counted: 212
Fresh: 125 | Rotten: 87
A surprisingly sympathetic portrayal of the 43rd American president, W. is fascinating in spots, but merely rudimentary as a whole.
Average Rating: 5.4/10
Critic Reviews: 46
Fresh: 20 | Rotten: 26
A surprisingly sympathetic portrayal of the 43rd American president, W. is fascinating in spots, but merely rudimentary as a whole.
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Average Rating: 3/5
User Ratings: 108,644
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Movie Info
Josh Brolin stars as George W. Bush in this Oliver Stone biopic that traces the head of state's rise to power from a privileged alcoholic to a born-again Christian whose belief in religious destiny helped move him to the top ranks of political power. Co-written by Stanley G. Weiser, Bush is produced by fellow Stone collaborators Moritz Borman and Jon Kilik, with Elizabeth Banks co-starring as the first lady, James Cromwell as the elder President Bush, Ellen Burstyn as Barbara Bush and Richard
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Cast
-
Josh Brolin
George W. Bush -
Elizabeth Banks
Laura Bush -
James Cromwell
George Herbert Walker B... -
Ellen Burstyn
Barbara Bush -
Thandie Newton
Condoleezza Rice -
Richard Dreyfuss
Dick Cheney -
Jeffrey Wright
Colin Powell -
Scott Glenn
Donald Rumsfeld -
Ioan Gruffudd
Tony Blair -
Toby Jones
Karl Rove -
Stacy Keach
Earle Hudd -
Bruce McGill
George Tenet -
Jesse Bradford
Fraternity President
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W. Trailer & Photos
All Critics (215) | Top Critics (46) | Fresh (128) | Rotten (88) | DVD (8)
As Poppy Bush says, and says again,"You disappoint me, Junior."
Top Critic'W.' is neither coruscating nor edifying - but without the benefit of hindsight, it's probably the best we can hope for.
W. feels poorly timed: too late to have any effect on the public, most of whom long ago checked out on the President, and too early to provide more than a schematic interpretation of who he is.
Perhaps Stone believed that the only way you can make sense of the George W. Bush debacle is by presenting it as a goof -- a Freudian cartoon. But if that's the case, he erred on the side of caution.
It has its moments, one of the finest at the conclusion.
The film may be ill-timed, arguably unnecessary and no more psychologically probing than any other Stone movie. But much of it works as deft, brisk, slyly engaging docudrama.
Neither a smear campaign nor propaganda piece, but rather a fascinating look at one of the more controversial presidents in recent memory that may end up changing your perspective on the Bush you only thought you knew.
No matter which way your political stripes run, W. won't likely rub them the wrong way.
Brolin outdoes himself in the title role.
Stone's film is like an affectionate kick in the groin of a good old boy you'd like to have a beer with, or with W today, a near Beer.
I'm unsure who W. will really appeal to: It's a poor historical document; it's not nasty enough for people who hate Bush and too nasty for the few still supporting him.
Stone's filmmaking fails to charge the narrative with the needed turmoil
Aided by an Oscar-worthy turn from Josh Brolin, what "W." attempts is something far bolder than badgering. Instead, Oliver Stone spews a subtler invective than normal here - insightful and indicting of a country's complicity up to a point.
Uma mistura de documentário e esquete do Saturday Night Live.
It's a film with a shelf life, I think. Unlike W himself, it should mature over time.
Stone and screenwriter Stanley Weiser have little...to offer us.
An absorbing and weirdly enjoyable portrait of a slight, meritless man and his calamitous presidency.
Endeavours this even-handed and entertaining shouldn't be "misunderestimated."
Audience Reviews for W.
Super Reviewer
Film, unfortunately, is a medium that can't help but glorify its subjects, and though the hackneyed script makes it evident that Bush is no hero, the total effect is one of idealizing the protagonist, and seemingly testing your ability to root for him. But unlike Cronenberg's Crash or Haneke's Funny Games, (or even American Psycho), this is isn't a brilliant examination of our urge to watch that which repels us; rather, it's a sloppy capitalization on generalized sentiment that, much like the WMDs all the president's men are seeking, never quite goes off.
Over time, when the realities finally fade in our memories, this film may stand up better, but for the moment, familiarity breeds contempt. Even four years after its release, it's still too soon. This film is an effigy, a straw man burned in the street for momentary effect, and one that regardless of how well we understand the feeling behind it, really doesn't say or do anything to improve our comprehension of what it purports to address: how an utterly unqualified applicant could obtain the biggest job in the world. A shame, too: a lot of good acting went to waste here, Richard Dreyfuss as Dick Cheney, in particular.
Super Reviewer
Discussion Forum
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| w | 8 days ago | 2 |
Latest News on W.
February 9, 2009:
RT on DVD: Oliver's W, Spike's St. Anna, and My Name is Bruce!What better way to celebrate the inauguration of President Barack Obama by watching Oliver Stone's...
November 7, 2008:
Video Exclusive: Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Banks on W.RT sits down with Josh Brolin and his on-screen First Lady Elizabeth Banks to learn more about W.,...
October 16, 2008:
Critics Consensus: W. Has OK Strategery, Max Is A PayneThis week at the movies, we've got presidential redemption, a lethal cop, a raunchy road-trip), and...
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Foreign Titles
- W (UK)
- W. - L'improbable Président (FR)
