Timing hasn’t always been controversial film director Oliver Stone’s strong point (his last epic Alexander hit a non-existent ’swords and sandals’ boom) but it’s the perfect time to release W, the biopic of George W. Bush.
Bush, played by Josh Brolin, is a fascinating character of course, how could such a klutz become president? The fact that he’s been a disaster is clearly less of a surprise.
Stone’s film portrays him as above although commentators over the years have noted that he wouldn’t have made it to the top of the slippery pole, despite his family connections, had he not been good at something.
The alarming stuff is the way he apparently thinks God is telling him what to do (which is obviously why he got on so well with Tony Blair) such as: “Go get them Iraqis George, and the Iranians and the Somalis and the…”
Poor old Condoleeza Rice, played by Thandie Newton, comes in for much stick which seems a touch unfair (but no-one would call Stone a particularly female-friendly director). Richard Dreyfuss makes a memorable Dick Cheney.
Will it affect the election? Probably not as it’s hardly likely to get the exposure of greats like Beverley Hills Chihuahua and will clearly appeal more to Obama supporters than Republicans.
Should cause a fuss though.