Sunday, October 12, 2008

Stone throwing

By now I'd be willing to believe almost anything about George W. Bush, but I wouldn't believe a word in Oliver Stone's "W." without checking his facts. Witness "JFK". Some misbegotten souls actually look at films like this and go no further.

But I'll watch the movie. That was the question posed at the end of the LA Times blog Director Oliver Stone talks about why he made "W."

Stone's movies are great narratives and usually entertaining, it's just that he seems to make up his mind before he starts gathering information.

And Stone is obviously trying to influence the election by releasing the picture now. A Newsweek review makes the interesting point that "Just how peripheral Bush now seems, in the wake of the country's economic meltdown, is not a situation Oliver Stone could have foreseen when he set out to make "W."—nor is it one that works in the movie's favor."

Bush is beyond lame. He's not very interesting when we're parsing the next President's every word.

But fire up the popcorn and I'll fire up my BS detector. Just remember it's a movie, not history.

5 comments:

Lil' Hammerhead said...

The handling of JFK by Stone was disturbing to me. Anytime a piece of history is distored is disturbing. Disney is just as dangerous.. "Anastacia" for example.. and the "Pocahontas" animated film. JFK was well-done, but that's it.

Where "W" is concerned, however, I don't know that he can do any worse than what we all already know. I mean really, how badly would he have to trash Bush to make him look any worse. He's already been voted the worst president of the last century.

I've read a bit on the movie and it sounds like he's actually taken some care with this one, to make it as accurate as possible. We shall see.

I can't wait to see it.

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to see this movie either. We're going Friday night. You're right, no need to exaggerate because the actual story is outrageous enough. I don't expect it to be really factual, but I do think it will be entertaining!

KAP said...

On Saipan we may have to travel or wait for the DVD, but I'm looking forward to seeing it. It would be sad to use 'W' as the only source of information, but fun to see what's said. Something like the Daily Show.

Lil' Hammerhead said...

Hey hey.. the Daily Show should be everyone's "primary source" of information. The world would be a better place for it :}

Lil' Hammerhead said...

I'd say the Colbert Report as well.. but I fear alot of folks won't get the philosophical sarcasm.