Review of W. (2008) by Jennifer M — 30 Dec 2010

Here's the thing... If you're looking for a movie that makes waves with a political view one way or another, this is not the movie to watch. It's really not anywhere near as political as I was expecting. Rather, this is more of a "coming of age" film. It's not documentary as I'm sure much was heavily dramatized, but it's based on the early life of the president with some flashes as to how the Iraq War came about. It's more of taking a president and emphasizing the human bits.

That aside... I liked the storytelling aspect, but the acting was horrible. Richard Dreyfuss did an amazing job as Dick Cheney, doing a fair impression of his mannerisms while still seeming natural. The other actors, including Brolin, were wince-inducing. I was reminded of cartoonish impressions-- particularly with Thandie Newton's Condoleezza Rice-- from SNL rather than a serious drama piece.

Bottom line, if you're curious about the early life of George W. Bush and would like to watch a movie about it, it's okay. If you're looking for some eye-opening tell-all piece that rips W. a new one, go see something from Michael Moore. If you want to see a good drama with good acting, rent Dances With Wolves.