W., the movie: Oliver Stone gets ready to uncork his October surprise

It isn't that director Oliver Stone is trying to influence the Nov. 4 election. Really. It's just that his biopic on George W. Bush is due to be released Oct. 17, about three weeks before voters head to the polls.

In an interview last week with the Times of London, Stone said in advance of the release that his new movie portrays President Bush as, well, a character.

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 stubbornness, 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 movie, starring Josh Brolin as George W. Bush and Richard Dreyfuss as Dick Cheney, is "a human portrait of a man, not meant to insult people who believe in what Bush believes in," said Stone, whose earlier works on "JFK" and "Nixon" stirred controversy. Brolin, he said, portrays Bush as "charming, which I think he is." Stone also compared Bush to his father, George H.W. Bush:

I think he (W.) 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.

Stone told The Times he's not sure the public will rush to the theaters to see a movie about an unpopular president, even though he tried to walk in the president's shoes. He explained:

It's my job ... if I'm dramatizing his life ... to step above my hate.

But enough of words. Here's the latest trailer leaking out of his studios.

-- Johanna Neuman

Comments

[Karen]

I hope that Oliver Stone realizes that this movie may antagonize the few Republicans that were thinking of voting for Obama to vote for McCain. I hope that the date for release will be moved to after the election.

[Castulo Guerra]

Using that particular Talking Heads song in the trailer is pure genius.

[Melissa L.]

I think that if people do see this movie that the writer is talking about it will have an influence on the up coming election. People need to see how our president truly affected this country. They need to make a wise decision when voting, because we do not need another president like the one we have now. Hopefully people watch this movie and get a better understanding on our president's wrong doing.

[youseeit]

remind me again why in the christ i would EVER want to spend money and time on a movie about that sick freak.

[Simon]

The country is overflowing with right wing hate jocks on the radio and on tv. Limbaugh, O'Reilly (well - the whole fox network really), Hanity, Savage etc. ad nauseum. You can traverse the country while traversing the car radio and 99% of what you hear will be right wing lies designed to hide the criminal acts of the Bush administration or spin them into virtues. Then we come to the legitimate media and even the so called liberal media who have for 8 years carried the water for Bush with a very few exceptions.

So one movie, no matter how negative it is about George W. Bush will be only a tiny drop in the sea of corrupt corporate media that have kept Bush's evil regime afloat for almost 8 years.

More power to you Oliver and I wish there were more truth tellers like you and Michael Moore in he word, we need the truth to stop these right wing charletans from destroying our civilization.

[chris h]

I hope that this movie reminds people about G.W., so that they will remember exactly what has driven the US for the past 8 years... so that they will go out and vote against Republican replacement.

[Erwin Winkle]

Stone don't make no one bad and can't make Bush bad. He shud make Mc Cain, so they see what we see. That Mc Cain good. Mc Cain do fine as President, just like Bush. They all see soon enough. Maybe Stone do one on Mc Cain next? He really shud! Bush and Mc Cain good and Obama is bad. Only the dumb will vote in Obama.

[W. Fan]

Would we expect anything less from Oliver Stone than an attempt to sway the vote away from the Republican Party? NO! Now, I will NEVER spend another dime on any Oliver Stone movie. Wake up people - do you really want a President who sides with hate mongers like Reverend Wright, or terrorists like William Ayers? If he sides with these fringe elements, he won't stop with them once he holds the most powerful office in the land. Your very liberty is at stake. Don't let your hate determine the future the rest of us are forced to live with.

[Roberto]

Considering that TONS of people began believing that LBJ had JFK killed after STone made the movie "JFK" (a historical falsity, but given today's less than inquiring American public, understandable), I would presume that "W" the movie will also become historical fact for a heckuva lot of people. American s on the right and left are mostly non-reflective consuming morons who are spoon -fed pablum from the media and believe it all to be true.

[Michele]

What hate are you talking about W. Fan?

The hate that Palin is spewing now with her racist jabs at how Barack Obama is "Not an American like you or I" disguised as harmless political rhetoric? She is the one spewing hate. They are on their last leg and the only thing that the McCain/Palin ticket can do is challenge an honest man's work on a committee aimed at helping people. Let's get real. This is about a lot more than just whether or not he served on the same committee with Ayers, it's about whether or not Palin can continue to stir the racist, negativity that Republicans have been known for since the birth of Karl Rove-ian politics! Enough!

WE WANT CHANGE! YES WE CAN!

[Robert NO longer in LA]

DANG! WE CAN'T WAIT for the movie, altho, living the agony, bush inflicted upon not just us, but the entire world.....well, Germany had their Hitler, Russia, their Joe Stalin, China, both Chiang AND Mao...so , maybe, like a good prep for a colonoscopy, we WILL rid ourselves of despots in BOTH parties. Remember, NEITHER Party has anything at all to do with democracy; both are PRIVATE, for profit (under the guise of 'Fee Speech', costing hundreds of millions) organizations, that sow misery everywhere.

[C. Justice]

Timing is everything and Stone has intended to sway opinion otherwise the release of the movie would be after the elections. You cannot tell me that this is not calculated.

I am an independent, who normally votes democrate. GO! McCain & Palin!

I am tired of "hollywood" and the "media". Entertain me and report unbiased factual news. .... which hasn't been done well by either.

Hopefully, a few of you will intentionally boycott Lionsgate and Stone... send them a message with your consumer $$$$.

[Charles]

Many thanks to Bill Maher and Oliver Stone. Your political ads disguised as movies just inspired me to donate to McCain's campaign, something I have never considered doing before. The Left loves to talk about right wing hate mongering, but it is obvious to anyone tuning in to CBS, ABC, MSNBC, CNN or NPR that the real examples of hate speech, scorn and arrogance comes from the liberal media. You can point to Limbaugh, Hannity and O'reilly but their influence pales in comparison to the fact that every other major network (with the exception of Fox) is basically a DNC campaign ad masquerading as news.

[Krista]

Hey, read the comment by Erwin Winkle on Oct. 6th. Did Sarah Palin write that? It sounds like something she would say.

[T]

W reminds me of President Palin back in 2010 when we still had a country. Ignorance is funny.... and dangerous.

- Time Traveling Tim

[Patrick]

Will this movie be enough to put the ghost of Joe McCarthy back in his grave? With disciples like Joe Lieberman still on the loose I fear it's not to be.

[Scott]

Dear Oliver Stone, or should I address you as William Silverstein,
Not that changing your name is anything akin to disavowing your Jewish heritage and proclaiming your self-loathing. Just a little advice, Ollie: a scorched-earth film about Bush and Republicans is just what everyone expects out of Hollywood. If you want to help Obama, how about making us believe Obama never heard any "God damn America" sermons over the 500 or so times he sat in Jeremiah Wright's church, listening to the good reverend's rants.

[Dr. Dre]

Oliver Stone's characters in many of his movies -- "Salvador," "Born on the Fourth of July," "JFK" -- appear to be stereotypes and caricatures. That's his style. If you look deeper into the actors, though, you will find they have a unique display of depth not through the acting, but through their dialogue. I don't think the movie will influence the election -- it seems McCain's campaign is already doomed. It's like the choice between Clinton, a Rock Star, or the elder Bush, in 1992, as the country was in a recession. America doesn't want to vote for the grandfather right now (I've got nothing against seniors.) We want youth and vigor. Politics is cyclical that way. I believe Stone when he says he tried to put himself in W.'s shoes "and set aside his hatred" for the man.

Go see the movie for what it is, a dark comedy that attempts to shed light on the actions and feelings of the central characters. Don't take it too seriously.

[John]

OMG You people actually believe what you are saying. Is it a coincidence that this movie is coming out just prior to "The" election? This country is truly in trouble.

[wyogirl]

Respect -

The lack of respect for authority of any sort is what has caused the downfall of America. People don’t respect police, teachers, elected officials, or senior citizens, who have carved America in this century. There are lots more that go in that list. This lack of respect, sentiment of entitlement, and learned helplessness is the real underlying reason for most of the big problems in our country, and worldwide too. It’s not just here. To create a movie that is insulting of a President, while he is still in office, no matter who the President is, further shows the utter lack of respect of the people in America, and illustrates to the rest of the world that we don’t care about dignity, or theirs, either.
It is sickening to what extent the greed of money has reached.
Democracy depends on respect.
It would definitely be impactful for people to refuse to give money to such a scummy piece of material. Oliver Stone can go pout in his office, he’s not getting my money.

[Karen Smyth]

John--Thank You, Thank You ! Respect. That what I teach my children. Question things you see are wrong and go out and take steps to change it. I can only imagine what some these people are teaching their children. I love my country. Yes we have made mistakes, some tragic! but do you give up on your family when they have faulted or do you help them become better people. Your choose, I choose the latter.

[John Adams]

The lowest life form in the Universe. A Republican.

And yes there will still be millions of idiots voting for the Republican party inspite of everything.........Not that the Dems are much better....Nonetheless
proof that we have left No Idiot Behind.

Help the gene pool! Restore the draft today!

PS- Tap foot for a Republican.

[ryan]

hi well first off I admire the creative talent it takes to make a movie especially a "biopic"
second is this movie about facts or is it only "based on a true story "? like all lies have some truth to them ? kinda deal ?I think it is funny how some people will take this as a true bio and that this movie portrays how our president is really like .
it is a good comedy but nonetheless lets not forget what the real issues are in this upcoming election please check out the following link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61wj4tJICcc
thank you
ryan

[Andy Eppink]

The Bush's, Father and Son, are good men and fairly different, unlike their various harping parasites and critics who'd never think to do or attempt to do what they've done, and what they've tried to do and failed in as well.

[Tom]

Cris H must have slept thru his spelling class's..Good grief, if you can't spell, please keep your thoughts to yourself..