W: Show Me Something I Didn’t Know

I fondly remember Josh Brolin as the cute older brother in the 80s classic, The Goonies.  The last thing I ever wanted to do was associate him with the man that could arguably be the worst president in U.S. history.  Brolin’s resemblance and firm grasp of Bush‘s idiosyncratic characteristics is uncanny.  So, too, were Thandie Newton and Richard Dreyfus‘ performances as Bush’s tight lipped “yes woman”, Condoleezza Rice, and war hungry Vice President Dick Cheney.  Ellen Burstyn was also memorable as a particularly feisty Barbara Bush.

Director Oliver Stone places his directorial signature on W. with metaphoric editing and a blunt narrative of Bush’s life, including his over-privileged background, his younger days as an alcoholic womanizer, and his struggles to escape from the shadow of his brother, Jeb, in order to gain his father’s acceptance.  Ironically, the attempt to shed a sympathetic light on Bush, Jr. also managed to shed a sympathetic light on his father, George W. Bush, Sr., whose stiff, futile, and old-fashioned attempts to advise and bond with his son emphasized Bush, Jr.’s arrogant and stubborn nature.

And yes, the film was an in-depth, occasionally comical, look into Bush Jr.’s life and presidency, including the often divided and sometimes misinformed counsel from his top advisors.  The film focused mainly on Bush’s decision to invade Iraq and his subsequent execution of Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussain.  On a more personal level, the film portrayed Bush as a man so driven to gain respect and acknowledgment within the family that never even considered him president material that he was willing to do anything to become President.  W. strongly depicted his obstinate, cowboy ways and tendency to follow his “gut instincts” into often questionable decisions despite arguments from those closest to him.

While the star studded performances were entertaining, I still came out of the movie theater no more informed or inspired than when I had gone in.  Like Oliver Stone and many other Americans, I don’t mind getting personal about this issue.  For me, the movie was pretty much an irritating re-hashing of President Bush, Jr.’s less than spectacular terms in office, his standoffish ways of talking around in circles, so many of his seemingly pointless decisions, and a period in American history to which I am more than happy to say good-bye.  And while I enjoyed such scenes as Bush choking on a pretzel or the lunch meeting with Cheney during which he actually eats a sandwich and Cheetos, I really didn’t see the necessity of telling this story so close to the end of Bush’s term in office.  However, it can be argued that the film may be an important reminder from Hollywood to Americans—particularly those that are still undecided as we rapidly approach election day—about the rebellious, bumbling black sheep who managed to defy all odds in order to become the leader of the most powerful nation on earth—a nation that was recently brought down to its knees after facing the largest economic crisis in decades…