Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Great Film overall

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

A look at President George W. Bush's path into politics from his college days. "W" in his younger years is shown as a drinking, brawling, college student whose rich Daddy, Bush Sr. bails him out out of trouble more than once in addition to obtaining favors to get him into Harvard Business School.Wanting to have a baseball career more than be in politics, "W" does takes a position with the Texas Rangers as an office executive, but not before trying out the oil fields among other things. He eventually joins his family in politics, running for senator, governor, of Texas and then President of the United States in 2000.This is a mini biography which barely skims "W's" life, but elects to focus on the Iraq war and "weapons of mass destruction," that were never found. It leads the viewer to believe that he was not a leader, but a follower, a follower of his family's legacy and was either not capable or unwilling to create his own.

A chronicle on the life and presidency of George W. Bush (Josh Brolin).The worst thing about this film is the awful casting, with many people looking nothing like who they should be. Karl Rove looks like a doofus and Condoleeza Rice sounds worse than Fran Drescher. Some are pretty good, and at least you can usually tell who each person is supposed to be. But, my goodness, maybe the casting director needed more time.The film is fun and enjoyable so long as you understand it is satire. Yes, Oliver Stone is a left-leaning guy, sometimes to an extreme. But this is obviously not meant to be a serious biopic, but more a look at the foibles of George W. Bush. Surprisingly, there are moments that really humanize the guy, and for that Stone deserves credit for pulling punches.

Of all political biopics out there, this remains to be the strangest. It plays out like a dark comedy from the Coen brothers. But Oliver Stone wanted to provide some truth, as well as humanizing a detested U.S. president. He really, kind of fails.. and he really, just makes Bush look even dumber than people thought he was. This film is also, historically, WAY TOO early to have been made. Bush wasn't even out of the Oval Office. I'd say the American public would've been ready for this half-way through Obama's 8-year term. This film would've been more effective, poignant and fascinating as a look back from today's political landscape. But, W. ends up being a knee- jerk reactionary film, hoping to sway an entire election in 2008. What's so pathetic about that, is that America was looking for a change, regardless if Oliver Stone threw his two-cents in or not. W. truly displays the arrogance of Oliver Stone as a director.

I put off seeing this until 2012 because of the reviews here. When I finally watched it I was irritated that I allowed short-sighted reviews to ruin my chance to see it in a fun group setting. I have since learned to read between the reviews.This was a fantastic performance by Josh Brolin, who nailed the publicly perceived persona of Dubya so well! The movie was a brilliant satirical depiction of the caricature the mass public created of Dubya. It was also a great impersonation of the public opinions of Cheney and other characters from this infamous administration.This, while depicting true events and basic facts of the life and presidency of this man, what a balance to maintain! While portraying the caricature, it still gave a sympathetic portrayal of his childhood, family relations and life events which actually had me wishing I could help the adolescent and young man rise above the emotional turmoil which created the grown man he became. It was done well.