Friday, May 09, 2008

W Update - 2008 Release Date & Brolin as Bush

I remember there being speculation that Oliver Stone's George W. Bush biopic, slated for 2009, might actually come out in 2008.

Well, Variety reports that the bio-pic, W, has now been picked up by Lionsgate and is expected to come out this year (October 17, 2008, just weeks before the November 4th election).

In regards to this films election positioning, I imagine in many ways the film is trying to create some "election entertainment" using the election to help propel and market the film. At a time where people are more apt to be reading the political stories, following political blogs, and watching there news network of choice...this film certainly has a chance to get into spotlight. Honestly, I doubt this will have any effect on the election, although I am sure some will suggest that a film of this nature could help the democratic nominee, simply because Bush might be painted as a doofus in this film.

The pictures from this post are from Entertainment Weekly. EW has an article about the film and some new pictures of what we might expect to Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Bank's to look like as the President and First Lady. Honestly, I'm impressed with the Brolin transformation (and facial in the cover shot) but I am certainly not buying Elizabeth Banks.

Interestingly enough, this film hasn't even started shooting, even though it's expected to open in just over 5 months. Apparently shooting is scheduled to begin in Shreveport Louisiana in a couple weeks.

Here is an interesting Oliver Stone quote from EW article:

''Bush may turn out to be the worst president in history,'' he declares as he peeks into room after room. ''I think history is going to be very tough on him. But that doesn't mean he isn't a great story. It's almost Capra-esque, the story of a guy who had very limited talents in life, except for the ability to sell himself. The fact that he had to overcome the shadow of his father and the weight of his family name — you have to admire his tenacity. There's almost an Andy Griffith quality to him, from A Face in the Crowd. If Fitzgerald were alive today, he might be writing about him. He's sort of a reverse Gatsby.''


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Other W Movie Post on StrangeCultureBlog:

6 comments:

elgringo said...

I read the EW article and I have to admit to being excited for this one.

Although, when I first heard about the biopic, my first thought was "Chris Cooper should play GW." Then I remembered "Silver City" and how he practically already had.

Well, we'll see how Mr. (Diane) Lane does with Stone. I predict the film will be split down the middle from critics and not make as much money as Lionsgate thinks it will.

Scott
he-shot-cyrus.blogspot.com

whitney said...

Considering how long and epic Stone's movies are, that's unbelievable that it will be done so quickly. Clearly there election-based motives at work. I didn't think of how the film would benefit, I only thought about it along political lines. But, I think you're probably right.

-Whitney
dearjesus.wordpress.com

Michael Parsons said...

I think the film would be having much more impact if Stone was still displaying the magic he had in the 80's and 90's.

This could all end up being a pile of poo though...it certainly looks like it is heading that way. Bad script reviews are hard to over come

Terence Towles Canote said...

I have to admit that I am none too sure about W. I love most of Stone's films, but then I just can't help but think that the events in the film are far too recent, History needs a bit of distance before we can really see it clearly.

Ando said...

I still think Stone should've cast Will Ferrell as W.

maryt/theteach said...

RC, I couldn't pass up asking my readers to guess who this was... I give you full credit.