Review of W. (2008) by Ron S — 23 Jun 2009

The parts of the film that serve as a biography of the young George W Bush are more interesting than the scenes that follow his presidency post-9/11, most of which are cliche, and based on anectdotal caricatures of the Bush inner-circle. Whatever one's politics, it is rather simplistic to see Richard Dreyfuss's Vice President Cheney played as so melodramatically evil that the only thing missing is damsel tied to the rails while he twists his mustache. Thandie Newton's Condi Rice is beyond comical and borders on an impersonation best suited for a Saturday Night Live sketch. Jeffrey Wright is marginally better as Colin Powell, yet his 'doth protest too much' approach to the character attempts too hard to exonerate the Secretary of State.

What then makes the film above average and worthy of viewing?

Simply the compelling performance of Josh Brolin as George W Bush.

Brolin is one of the few players in the film who doesn't seem to be trying out an Improv impersonation. Instead he invests the character with a reality that doesn't seek to pre-judge who or what George Bush is/was about. In other words, he plays it straight. Brolin's Bush is a sincere man who has come a long way in changing who he is, battling his borderline alcoholism, wild partying past to become a serious person, or at least someone attempting to be so. Bush is somewhat sympathetic, and more often complex. The best scenes in the film are those that feature Brolin and Elizabeth Banks as Laura Bush. In fact, the film would have improved immensely if he had instead focused more time on their relationship, and exploring it helped tame the wild W.

Yes, it is important to hold the Bush Administration accountable for its failures, and there is plenty blame to go around. However, for fictional movie fare it is often preachy, and thus of poor historical quality.

Save the recriminations for documentaries, where the setting is better suited for it.