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"W"

64.12.116.195

Much better movie than I expected
Not nearly the liberal bias I expected
Almost a history lesson

Richard Dreyfuss plays Dick Cheney and just nails him. An amazing performance

The actor who plays Karl Rove who I hadn't seen before nails him too...very impish or leprechaun-like

The actress who plays Conde Rice gets her right too.

Bush portrayed a bit too much as a swashbuckling Texan

However, the media portray Bush as being an ignorant person who simply took orders from Cheney, Rove and Rumsfeld. In the movie Bush over and over is shown as very much in charge, alert to what various people are telling him and responsible for his decisions and that he also worked hard to try to hear and consider varying points of view. Powell is portrayed as simply having a view that didn't carry the day in meetings, and was much more forceful in stating his views to Bush than is generally recognized. Not that Bush somehow didn't hear nor understand what his view was.

All in all an interesting movie and an interesting perspective to ponder, and definitely not the left wing preaching I'd expected going in.

Follow Ups:

I enjoyed W. - PhilJ 13:52:20 10/20/08 (0)
and frankly forgot Brolin was playing him. Not a great movie but pretty engaging from start to finish - if only as a history lesson (for myself)

The problem with these types of movies is that while they are playing I am questioning the accuracy or probability of characters actions. But enjoyable neverless.

thanks

Phil
Ebert called it factually acurate - WinthorpeIII 07:30:07 10/19/08 (0)
unlike (according to Ebert), JFK and Nixon. The movie looks interesting.

I'm glad Ebert's reviews can still be found online.
I've Generally Like Stone's Movies.... - Draz 18:46:40 10/18/08 (2)
...But this one, not so much.

I agree that it was not the liberal hatchet job I thought it might have been and that as a good thing.

I also agree that Richard Dreyfus was brilliant as Cheney and whoever played Rove got him dead on too.

But the portrayal of Rice and Powell were both underwhelming I thought.

I thought the story line was too unfocusded and jumped around way too much, effectively preventing any real character development or ability to truly relate or empathize with the characters. Ironically 'Bush the greater' was the most interesting and sympathetic character in the film IMO.

The film just kind of wandered all over the map and never really dug it's heels in and had the kind of focus it needed to allow the audience to relate to it.

The truth hurts, lies kill
"The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses" [Albert Einstein]
- Toby Jones "is" Rove. nt - tinear 22:12:33 10/18/08 (1)
  d
  - Is that Pygmy? * - mr grits 11:14:02 10/19/08 (0)
    .
good to hear - PhilJ 18:28:56 10/18/08 (0)
I want to see this movie. Oliver Stone has stated that he thinks Bush is an interesting character, absolutely without remorse. He does not seem to anxious to crusify him in interviews (he is still president after all)
:^)

BTW the guy who plays Rove name escapes me but he did a remarkable job as Capote in Infamous. The (slightly) better of the two Capote bios.

thanks

Phil

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