In a recent interview with the London Times, director Oliver Stone discussed his new George W. Bush biopic, “W,” and how he feels it portrays the man in a fair light, the fact that it is a tragic comedy and also touched on his doubts about the chances of the films success. Stone was forced to gather $30 million out of Chinese investors to see his vision of “W” become a reality, because no America studio or financier was willing to even think about getting involved with the highly controversial filmmaker on such a bizarre project.
Even though Stone has tirelessly gathered the money and put in months of work to make the film, for him the jury is still out on whether it can parley Bush’s failures into the film’s financial success. Stone answered the question of why the same electorate that has made Bush the most unpopular President in American history would want to hand over money to see a two-hour biopic about him, “I’m not sure that we’ll succeed,” he admitted. But then he went on to explain why the film has the chance to resonating with the American public, “But this movie is not for the 12 per cent who still approve of him-it’s for the other 88 per cent. On the other hand, it is a human portrait of a man, not meant to insult people who believe in what Bush believes.”
Stone also responded to the question of whether the film was meant to come off as a comedy, since the trailer is certainly a riot, “It’s a comedy only in the sense of tragic comedy. 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 makes him fascinating. You may hate Wayne’s politics, but you may well enjoy his company on screen.
It is still unclear if the film will portray Bush in any type of sympathetic light, but Variety EIC, Peter Bart recently
saw it and said it’s “part polemic, and part parody,
“W.” explores the love-hate relationship between George Bush senior and junior.” He also says the picture is an “engrossing” one which “reminds us that the man who made
“Platoon” hasn’t lost his edge.”
If Stone’s does indeed emit a semi-sympathetic portrayal of the president, then the credit most likely goes to the man playing Bush. “I think Josh [Brolin] gives Bush the benefit of the doubt and makes him charming, which I think he is. I think he is a wonderful salesman, charismatic to many people and he has a politician’s ability to touch and reach, which his father never had. So he did outdo his father-as a salesman.”
“W” will be available for your viewing and judgement on October 17 during its wide release.
