Dr. Venkman Reviews: 'W.'

This is just a fascinating movie to watch. I didn't really know what to expect from this film as a whole. Sure, we have seen bits and pieces, but to see it all come together and in context is really quite something.Most people are going to go to this movie thinking it is going to bash Bush, but it is not that type of movie at all. This film is a great character study. The whole movie revolves around Bush who he is and where he came from. You get a look into his past. It an origins story how did the most regular underachieved guy who could keep a job become one of the most powerful men in the world.

'W' Is about a man trying to get out from under his fathers wing. It seems like no matter what he does, his dad will never be satisfied. It goes into how there is a bit of a jealous rival with his brother Jeb and how George senor had more confidence in him than in W. We get a glimpse of W's wild college days, the many jobs he couldn't hold down, how he met his wife, how he battled alcoholism, and found religion. These are events we watch take place as it is intercut with present day W. Once it catches up to the present where W's the President is where the movie moves more into the politics aspect, and where Oliver Stone goes off on sharing with everybody what he thinks went down with the war. Even then he really doesn't point the finger at Bush, but at everybody involved. He almost makes it look like W just didn't know any better.

The movie never really puts focus on any of the other cabinet members. But, they have a powerful voice in the film, and it builds everything that leads up to the war.



The whole cast was great. I wouldn't be surprised if Josh Brolin is nominated and wins Best Actor at the next Oscars. He was incredible in this movie. The other best actor in the film is Richard Dryfuss. He was awesome as Dick Cheney. He made him look like a very scary person to be around. Scott Glen as Donald Rumsfeld was funny. Thandie Newton as Condoleezza Rice was just a little weird. She was like a side kick of comic relief. Jeffrey Wright as Colin Powell has a really good scene in the film. Elizabeth Banks who played Laura Bush also did a fine job. James Cromwell as George senior was amazing as always. Out of everyone in the cast Brolin, Cromwell, and Dryfuss were just so natural as they played their characters.

Now I have no idea what in this film is fact or fiction but it is obvious there is a little bit of both. I think a lot of people are going to go to this movie thinking this is a full on 100% true story and treat it as actual history. It's important that we don't do that when watching a movie like this. For all we know the truth could be better or it could be worse. I guess we will never know the truth of what goes on in that little white house in Washington DC. I bring this up because while I was in the theater their was a woman sitting behind me who obviously had a hatred for Bush. Talking out loud to herself how she couldn't believe this or that, making statements throughout the movie as if it were all fact. It was very annoying. She wasn't the only one in the theater either. Hollywood likes to embellish things and with every true story about an historical event they like to embellish.

I think everyone can relate to a film like this. Here you have a guy with an incredible amount of pressure and weight on his shoulders that he had before he was even the President. As much of a screw up as this character was he was still able to really make something out of himself. What matters in the end is what you do with that success and power once you have it.

I thought the movie was great. I didn't think I would like it as much as I did. It has a few laugh out loud moments. Bush haters will like it and Bush likers shouldn't hate it. It's only a movie about a man going through life experiences that anyone of us could have.

Whatever you end up going to see, always remember to enjoy your time at the movies.

-Dr. Venkman