New York Times On "W.": The Film Is Surprisingly Plausible

"It was wacky stuff that at the end of the day took us out of the movie," Mr. Stone said in a recent interview in a back corner of the restaurant at the Royalton Hotel in Manhattan. "We wanted to focus on the mind-set of this man. We don't change anything in his true story. Don't have to, because it's a great story. Dickens would do it. Mark Twain would write a great book. This guy who is basically a bum becomes president of the United States."

The surprise about "W." is that its left-wing creator made a movie that is not so much operatic or hysterical as utterly plausible.

Yes, there are soapy oversimplifications and embellishments (and some hallucinatory camera work involving baseball stadiums and showdowns in the Oval Office) that Bush loyalists will seize on as reprehensible distortions.

But all in all, the straightforwardness of "W." suggests that Mr. Stone set out to make a critical biography but was somehow spooked. The director who has built a career on vowing to unearth hidden truths made a movie that feels more familiar than revelatory.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Puller58]

Stone has always been tough for me to take. Yet another movie I won't be seeing.

[BlackJAC]

APOLLO 13 wasn't completely accurate, either: for example, it was Swigert who said "Houston, we have a problem." The Dan Aykroyd character in PEARL HARBOR was a fictionalized composite of all the ONI guys who were working the problem at the time. This was because they were trying to tell a story rather than do a complete reenactment of what happened.

[Bettysdad]

Interesting that Berke would refer to Stone as the film's "left-wing creator."

It would seem that Stone is a very major capitalist, so he's obviously not left-wing.

Oh, you mean he's not right-wing loon. That doesn't make him a leftist.

It makes him a centrist, like all of us liberals

The political spectrum is : socialists/communists Liberals Republicans.

You're forgiven Berke. It's a very common mistake.

[ry459]

Some liberals are centrist, some are not. Those that are in favor of government sponsored and supported health care, redistribution of wealth (ie. taxing the rich and giving their money to the poor, etc.) are not centrist. That is socialism. Don't believe me? Look it up. If you believe that the government should take care of everything, or even most things, then you are a socialist. That is the very basis of socialism. Not all Republicans are "right wing loons", just like all Democrats are not "left wing lunatics". The fact that you attempt to paint all liberals as "middle of the road" and all Republicans as "right wing loons" does not bother to take that into account and shows that you are not a "centrist". Think about it.

[ry459]

Almost forgot. Hard to believe the New York Times calls the film "Surprisingly Plausible". One of the most liberal newspapers on the planet, and a major hater of the President, and they like a film that totally mocks him. Big surprise.

[milo h minderbinder]

And have you seen it?

I'm guessing no.

[ry459]

I don't have to see it to find the Times' comments amusing. Think about it. The Times does not like George Bush. The film does not portray him in anything but a negative manner. So, the fact that they call the film "surprisingly plausible" should not come as a surprise to anyone. It would be like a right wing magazine or newspaper giving raves for a movie that mocks Barack Obama. Not exactly much of a surprise.

[ry459]

I am very disappointed in Oliver Stone for releasing this movie. It shows a definite lack of respect for the office of the President. Regardless of whether you like George Bush or don't ( for the record, I don't), I think releasing this movie while the man is still in office is very offensive. You want to make a movie that totally mocks the man, at least have the decency to wait till he's out of office.

[Bettysdad]

It's never too early to alert the world to a truly dangerous individual.

[robeson]

It should have been released before GW took office.

[milo h minderbinder]

The office deserves respect.

Any given person who holds that office doesn't deserve respect just for holding that office.

Respect is something that must be earned, and if any president has failed to earn it, it's GWB.

[ry459]

That argument is irrelevant. It's not about the man, it's about the office. The office of the President of the United States is deserving of respect. Stone's film shows disrespect to that office. I don't really care about GWB. I care about the office. I care about what that office represents. By disrespecting the "office" (not the man), then you are disrespecting this country...and that is not acceptable.

[11907281]

Blind respect and blind patriotism are what have enabled the most vile monsters in history to commit their crimes.

[Bitsko]

Richard Dreyfus looks like perfect casting as Cheney.

[robeson]

I think Mr. Stone played the right card here and disarmed the gaggle of GW Bush apologists that were ready to quack, quack.
Stone, "We wanted to focus on the mind-set of this man. We don't change anything in his true story. Don't have to, because it's a great story. Dickens would do it. Mark Twain would write a great book. This guy who is basically a bum becomes president of the United States."
Whenever a Bush apologist spews a long, creative defense of GW Bush, the question that drops their pen is, am i suppose to disbelieve all that I have seen. heard and read for you? Why?

[AZterritory]

Do one on McCain next--you could call it "McMeltdown".

[TheyCalledMeSandN]

you know it would be called "Maverick"... eekh i dont even want to hear that word again

[Kiabell04]

Brolin actually makes "w" look human. The real "W" looks like a primate, and unfortunately isn't even assmart as one.

[wsblake]

rove's comment about oliver stone's not "conforming to reality" is so ironic aint it? coming from rove and the white house that continually belittled and joked about all of us fools who live "in that reality based world."

[Toonadude]

Brolin's natural features and make up result in a pretty good likeness of W except for the short eyes.
However, I guess we can't fault Stone for not wanting to tap that pool just for the sake of authenticity.

[GirlsRule]

I don't need to watch a movie to figure out how W will be the worst President in my lifetime. Besides I don't like OS. I still haven't forgotten his comments after 9/11. And I still believe it was Hollywood's on air media blasting of W that cost Kerry the election in 04. Don't get me wrong I'm a big patron of the arts. But I don't pay you to spew hate on the Tele or Mag. I still respect the Presidency. This year is very very different. I'm glad Hollywood has stayed low key.

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

The real shrub is bad enough. Why would I go and spend my money to see an imitation dry-dru nk C stud ent?

[RadhaColalurver]

It looks interesting. I might just see it on opening night.

[glesslib]

I'm with the guy who said that after 8 years of George Bush, 2 more hours was something he wasn't willing to devote to.

[GirlsRule]

Ditto!