Directed by: Oliver Stone
Starring: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, James Cromwell, Richard Dreyfuss, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Scott Glenn, Toby Jones
It seems George W. Bush may have never been President if he had a modicum of success in any of his previous careers or if he had a different father. W., directed by Oliver Stone, doesn't take sides, but observes how growing up in the shadow of a famous father can be a help and a detriment. For George W. Bush, it was plenty of both.
W. was the first biopic released about a President who still occupied the Oval Office at the time of its release. Bush was a polarizing figure: A champion to the religious right and an enemy of the left. His approval rating soared after his initial attack on Afghanistan following 9/11, but plummeted to unchartered depths as it became known that there were no WMDs in Iraq. W. focuses on Bush's college years at Yale to the beginning of the Iraq War. We see a man battling demons in the form of drugs, alcohol, and an inability to live up to his family name. We then see a man who becomes a born-again Christian and complete successful runs for Governor of Texas and then the White House. What drives him to take positions that are well beyond his level of competence to handle? In positions of power, he is mostly a "my way or the highway" type of leader who surrounds himself with people who are far more competent than he. He tends not to listen to them anyway, believing that Jesus will provide him with the answers.
The strength of W. lies not only in the performances, but in Stone's decision not to treat his subject as a clown or a tragic figure. There are elements of both and Stone allows us to make the decisions for ourselves on our feelings towards him. The younger Bush believes himself to be a man of the people and he somehow conveys that belief to voters. Perhaps if Bush didn't hook up with strategist Karl Rove (Jones), he likely would be stuck running unsuccesfully for Congress in small Texas districts. A strength Bush has seems to be surrounding himself with the right people to pull the strings and allow him to believe he is in charge. His relationship with his VP Dick Cheney (Dreyfuss) is proof of that. Cheney proposes ideas and advice to Bush as if he hasn't already decided how things will be handled, especially following 9/11. Bush sternly reminds him who the President is, which Cheney takes under advisement, but otherwise doesn't heed his boss' warnings.
As Bush, Brolin brings us a person at war with himself. He loves his father, but resents the large shadow he casts. His decisions to run for governor and President are based largely on attempts to outdo his dad. Starting a war with Iraq is seen less as a military strategy and more as one more way to one-up his old man. James Cromwell plays George H.W. Bush as a man who believes the family name must be carried with pride and dignity and handles himself as such. Was the real H.W. Bush this squeaky clean, considering his history in politics and the CIA? Not likely, but Cromwell's performance presents a strong counterpoint to his son's recklessness.
I was a bit disappointed in Stone's characterization of Laura Bush (Banks), who is seen as blindly supportive and loyal to her husband. This leads to a bland, perfunctory onscreen relationship. Bush's mother (Ellen Burstyn) also isn't given much to do except referee arguments between the older and younger Bush. Throw in the ineffectual Condoleeza Rice (Newton), and we see that the women in Bush's life don't have much to say or have little impact. I'm sure this is not the case, but it's disappointing that Stone chose to downplay this angle.
Nonetheless, W. is a strong film which asks us to identify with, but not excuse Bush. The former President will remain a controversial figure for some time. History will dictate where he falls in the pecking order of our Presidents, but W. is at least able to provide some insight into a man more complex than anyone previously thought.
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