Whether you love him or hate him, there is no doubt George W. Bush is one of the most controversial presidents in our nation’s history. Like last week’s review of “JFK”, I ask we put all politics aside and take
Whether you love him or hate him, there is no doubt George W. Bush is one of the most controversial presidents in our nation’s history. Like last week’s review of “JFK”, I ask we put all politics aside and take this film for what it is. The director spent multiple years researching the president with a team of researchers working around the clock; he read over 40 books from cover to cover about President Bush prior to launching this project. This film is accurate, although comical at many moments. The movie leaves you wondering is it funny or sad what we’re laughing at?
The film jumps around from George Bush’s college days to present day (years are given in the film). The film has the unique honor of being the only film in history to be released about a president while that president is in office. This film was released two weeks before Barack Obama was elected president. I remember seeing this movie and feeling the political climate changing in the air daily. It was significant to me because I was entering a new decade of my life, there was about to be a new president and a very close relative was sick.
My grandma loved George Bush. This film was something I know she would’ve disliked and the only disagreement we ever had in life was about this president. I look back and realize it was very sad she was ill, but she admired Barack Obama and respected that he won the election. I mention this so we can remember to keep politics out of examining this movie. I personally won’t get into my thoughts of the president, but this film is really entertaining. It has a cast like no other playing people we see on the news. The entire cast of characters in this movie are not so much characters as their off-screen counterparts. That is what makes this film so accessible.
You do walk in with your own thoughts, but if you can truly examine this film as a historical document and not as something to judge, you will enjoy it. The film is shot by renowned cinematographer Phedon Papamichael, whose work includes “Walk the Line” and “The Pursuit of Happyness.” Mr. Papamichael worked on Kaua‘i this past year and I had the good fortune to meet him. He told me stories about the making of “W.” and what it was like working with film director Oliver Stone. Also, what was very interesting is Papamichael is from Greece, so the unique perspective of a foreigner adds to this film.
For those of you who don’t know, President Bush is played by Josh Brolin. Brolin came to fame in films like “No Country for Old Men”, his Oscar-nominated role in “Milk” and most recently re-teamed with Oliver Stone for “Wall Street: Money Nevery Sleeps” (next week’s review). To end this review I selected it to commemorate, well, acknowledge that 10 years ago this week President Bush took office after an “interesting” election that included a re-count and the Supreme Court. The film doesn’t do anything but stick to the facts and really does let you form your own opinion. It is Stone’s most accessible film to date (aside from “Any Given Sunday,” a football epic I will review on 1/30).
Year: 2008
Director: Oliver Stone
Starring: Josh Brolin, James Cromwell, Ellen Burstyn
“Student Film Showcase”
Lihue Library conference room
Wednesday January 19th 6:30 p.m.
FREE 241-3222
