True. But I think the bigger things to complain about here are the rush to get the first word in and then squandering that opportunity by doing a hack job that basically sounds like a superficial round-up of the already conventional wisdom and most-remembered moments.
― disdick (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 15 October 2008 17:38 (fifteen years ago) link
I mean, the NYT profile of Stone describes an early cut where Bush was flying over Baghdad on a carpet. I'm guessing that's the version ppl here were panting to see.
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 18:01 (fifteen years ago) link
Wasn't sure Armond would maintain his Stonelove, but he does:
http://nypress.com/21/42/film/ArmondWhite.cfm
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 20:16 (fifteen years ago) link
comaplaining about the political timing/squandered potential "impact" of the movie seems kinda stupid.
― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, October 15, 2008 5:36 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
i 100% agree
― s1ocki, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 20:22 (fifteen years ago) link
this is actually a much more chilled-out movie than you might expect. it also assumes you've made up your mind about the significance of the bush presidency and all he's been responsible for in favour of a smaller, character piece.
― s1ocki, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 20:23 (fifteen years ago) link
W. is the best example of American filmmaking courage since Munich.
ahahahahahah
― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 20:45 (fifteen years ago) link
I'm a bit disappointed that it ends before the second term.
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 20:47 (fifteen years ago) link
I haven't the filmmaking courage to open the Armond review.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 21:39 (fifteen years ago) link
That is the stupidest Armond White review yet.
― Alex in SF, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 21:53 (fifteen years ago) link
complaining about the public being unfair to Bush is pretty weird. Aesthetically, I don't have any problem with vilifying evil people. Armond seems to take issue with it for being "too easy" or something.
― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 21:56 (fifteen years ago) link
(and thus commends Stone for not taking the "easy" way out and attempting to make a more "balanced" portrait)
Think of how much more courageous Munich would have been if Eric Bana had stepped on a corn cob.
― Alex in SF, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 21:59 (fifteen years ago) link
lolz
― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 15 October 2008 22:02 (fifteen years ago) link
anyone who isn't excited by this song in the trailer is a damn fool is all im sayin, guys.
― the schef (adam schefter ha ha), Thursday, 16 October 2008 00:58 (fifteen years ago) link
<3
― latebloomer, Thursday, 16 October 2008 04:25 (fifteen years ago) link
seein this tonight!
― Shakey Mo Collier, Friday, 17 October 2008 16:23 (fifteen years ago) link
yeah, and not really sure why I am so excited about it. i mean, i haven't even seen a trailer
― Dominique, Friday, 17 October 2008 22:57 (fifteen years ago) link
thoroughly enjoyed this.
― latebloomer, Friday, 17 October 2008 23:16 (fifteen years ago) link
i've never been much of a stone fan but i liked it a lot. wonderful performances throughout — james cromwell especially — and surprisingly moving.
the only downer for me was that stone skipped the entire period between 1999 and 2002. leaving florida and 9/11 out of the bush story just seems wrong.
― J.D., Saturday, 18 October 2008 18:43 (fifteen years ago) link
there is indeed a "go fuck yourself" but it went by so fast i couldn't tell whether it was from powell or cheney.
― J.D., Saturday, 18 October 2008 18:53 (fifteen years ago) link
Powell
― en i see kay, Saturday, 18 October 2008 19:00 (fifteen years ago) link
what a chore of a movie
― al gore rhythm nation (m bison), Sunday, 19 October 2008 05:47 (fifteen years ago) link
long as fuck, not really gripping in any places
― jordan s (J0rdan S.), Sunday, 19 October 2008 05:52 (fifteen years ago) link
made me want a sandwich really bad though
― jordan s (J0rdan S.), Sunday, 19 October 2008 05:53 (fifteen years ago) link
Cheney says something about Iraq "fucking with us."
― jaymc, Sunday, 19 October 2008 05:54 (fifteen years ago) link
One historical inaccuracy I noticed: In a scene that was supposed to be set in 1990, W. complains to Bush Sr. that Bud Selig jerked him around about becoming baseball commissioner before deciding to take the position permanently himself. In 1990 the commissioner of baseball was Fay Vincent; Selig didn't replace him until two years later (as "acting commissioner") and did not become permanent until 1998.
― jaymc, Sunday, 19 October 2008 15:42 (fifteen years ago) link
congrats you have found the plot hole!
― the schef (adam schefter ha ha), Sunday, 19 October 2008 18:33 (fifteen years ago) link
Hoberman asks, who cares?
Hoberman also shows his inattention to detail by saying W choked on a potato chip. The pretzel makers of America are now furious at him.
― Aimless, Sunday, 19 October 2008 18:39 (fifteen years ago) link
this was great. Thandie Newton's Condi was constant roflz
― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 20 October 2008 17:27 (fifteen years ago) link
i really hated Thandie Newton's Rice. either Stone had her just play her as broadly as possible or Newton's not capable of anything better.
― horseshoe, Monday, 20 October 2008 17:29 (fifteen years ago) link
Shakey Armond Collier!
Does she get to say "I beleeeeve the name of the report was..."
― Dr Morbius, Monday, 20 October 2008 17:29 (fifteen years ago) link
couple minor things:
1) Armond's wrong about the corncob shot, its Dubya's host who steps on it, not Dubya. (Why this shot is in there at all is kinda inexplicable).2) The exclusion of 9/11 is interesting. Partly because its absence directly implies that 9/11 had nothing to do with Dubya's motivations in office, and partly because maybe Stone didn't want to retread that ground...?
― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 20 October 2008 17:30 (fifteen years ago) link
the Powell/Cheney exchange ref'd above is Cheney disappointedly telling Powell "you could've been president!" and Powell responds "fuck you."
― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 20 October 2008 17:31 (fifteen years ago) link
remembering oliver stone's crazy conspiracy theorizing upon the occasion of 9/11, as reported in the new yorker, maybe he thinks it's safest to stay the fuck away from it.
― horseshoe, Monday, 20 October 2008 17:31 (fifteen years ago) link
it would've meant filming Nicholas Cage's firefighter embracing Josh Brolin on WTC wreckage.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 20 October 2008 17:31 (fifteen years ago) link
i thought it was laura who stepped on the corncob! i figured it was just a 'wacky' way of introducing her.
― J.D., Monday, 20 October 2008 21:57 (fifteen years ago) link
is "stepping on the corncob" a frottage reference?
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 20 October 2008 22:06 (fifteen years ago) link
this movie has no plot
― 888 (ice crӕm), Monday, 20 October 2008 22:08 (fifteen years ago) link
Welcome to the last eight years.
― Alex in SF, Monday, 20 October 2008 22:13 (fifteen years ago) link
lol thats what it shouldve been called - i kept trying to imagine how baffling the movie wouldve been if youd never heard of george w bush
― 888 (ice crӕm), Monday, 20 October 2008 22:15 (fifteen years ago) link
i was SHOCKED at how bad jeffrey wrights powell was - dude is usually so sweet
― 888 (ice crӕm), Monday, 20 October 2008 22:16 (fifteen years ago) link
The real Powell did kill some people, you know.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 20 October 2008 22:17 (fifteen years ago) link
:(
― goole, Monday, 20 October 2008 22:18 (fifteen years ago) link
? What was wrong with the Powell performance?
Saying it has no plot is OTM though. The story is taken for granted and is framed as a light-handed, dual flashback series of vignettes. All the scenes are really short. here's no dramatic arc, no climax. I laughed my ass off though.
― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 20 October 2008 22:19 (fifteen years ago) link
it was just that he didnt sound or act at all like colin powell
― 888 (ice crӕm), Monday, 20 October 2008 22:20 (fifteen years ago) link
i thought it was laura who stepped on the corncob!
I don't think so - the shot immediately prior is of the hostess collaring George and walking through the backyard, then it cuts to a woman's sandal crushing the corncob, then back up to George seeing Laura.
― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 20 October 2008 22:20 (fifteen years ago) link
I also enjoyed the preponderance of scenes involving people eating.
― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 20 October 2008 22:21 (fifteen years ago) link
After watching Taxi to the Dark Side this weekend, I think it'll be a while before I can laugh at this presidency.
― Alex in SF, Monday, 20 October 2008 22:21 (fifteen years ago) link
brolins bush is pretty hilarious
― 888 (ice crӕm), Monday, 20 October 2008 22:22 (fifteen years ago) link
watching the cabinet meetings about the war is pretty harrowing.
― horseshoe, Monday, 20 October 2008 22:22 (fifteen years ago) link