One can say that a film documenting the life of President George W. Bush is a surprise.  He’s still in position, although already in its last days, and his tenure and decisions have been subject to wide controversy and discussion.  Could it be too early?  Not for director Oliver Stone, whose film W. will hit theaters in two weeks.  Despite a hectic postproduction schedule, he still managed to talk about his film in an interview with the British newspaper The Times.

Will audiences who are mostly disapproving of Bush’s policies watch a film about him?  “I’m not sure that we’ll succeed,” he thought.  "But this movie is not for the 12 per cent who still approve of him—it’s for the other 88 percent. On the other hand, I don’t think there’s anything in the movie that the other 88 percent would have any reason to detest. It is a human portrait of a man, not meant to insult people who believe in what Bush believes in.”

He also claims that the film is aimed to make people understand the controversial world leader.  “It’s my job … if I’m dramatizing his life … to step above my hate,” he said.

The trailer, which is already online, suggests that the film will be a complete, coupled with the use of the Talking Heads song “Once in a Lifetime” to illustrate the protagonist’s position.  Stone, however, clarified that it will be something different.  “It’s a comedy only in the sense of tragic comedy,” he said.  “You laugh in your mind, because Bush is a goof-ball, because he’s awkward, but at the same time he has a stubborn-ness, a John Wayne ethos, an anger, an impatience, that make him fascinating.  You may hate Wayne’s politics, but you may well enjoy his company on screen.”

The film, which will explore Bush’s years as a student, governor of Texas and eventually as United States president, features Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks and James Cromwell.  It will hit theaters on October 17.


-Henrik Batallones, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: The Times
(Image courtesy of Time Out New York)