tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post5816386015818125969..comments2023-08-20T06:16:15.362-05:00Comments on Getafilm: REVIEW: W. (B+)Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-87254224823083526972008-10-26T22:33:00.000-05:002008-10-26T22:33:00.000-05:00Interesting, Patrick - I didn't think about it at ...Interesting, Patrick - I didn't think about it at the time, but throw a mustache on Dubya during the barbecue scene and you do indeed have Llewelyn (sp?) Moss. Thanks for commenting!Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-30047377814419042402008-10-24T17:44:00.000-05:002008-10-24T17:44:00.000-05:00Josh Brolin did a convincing Dubya, though he remi...Josh Brolin did a convincing Dubya, though he reminded me a lot of his cowboy character from No Country for Old Men...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-40507465584245721722008-10-22T16:12:00.000-05:002008-10-22T16:12:00.000-05:00Me too, Nayana. Right here just a few months ago I...Me too, Nayana. Right here just a few months ago I <A HREF="http://getafilm.blogspot.com/2008/04/movie-news-you-need-to-know-blood.html" REL="nofollow">expressed doubt</A> about it, but it ended up being OK for me.<BR/><BR/>Man, nobody liked Newton but me! I admit at first it was little much, but after that I bought it. She nailed it, I thought. <BR/><BR/>I agree, movieman - Palin rapping would have been some sight. Probably painful, but at least as entertaining.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-76746352748526425012008-10-22T12:46:00.000-05:002008-10-22T12:46:00.000-05:00I agree that Newton was very difficult to watch - ...I agree that Newton was very difficult to watch - too over the top and weirdly mean-spirited in a way that even the portraits of Rumsfeld and Cheney weren't.<BR/><BR/>And I finally saw the Palin clip from SNL. I must say it was pretty hilarious, especially the guy in a moose suit getting shot down and the eskimo posse, but it would have been even funnier if Palin had done the rap herself.Joel Bockohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238338958380683893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-28237752257434460542008-10-22T10:37:00.000-05:002008-10-22T10:37:00.000-05:00I actually really enjoyed this a lot more than I t...I actually really enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Gotta disagree with you on Thandie Newton, though. I thought she was unwatchable.Nayana Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16332782426894904414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-15867907826393180182008-10-21T23:56:00.000-05:002008-10-21T23:56:00.000-05:00True. And it was a lose-lose situation for Stone. ...True. And it was a lose-lose situation for Stone. Show sympathy to Bush and get the critical response he did, or unabashedly attack him and be further labeled a crazy radical. Making a movie with Will Ferrell as Bush might have been a lot funnier, but neither would it have given us any more insight on who the guy is.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-14673313373467981122008-10-21T22:56:00.000-05:002008-10-21T22:56:00.000-05:00I agree with your post about this movie trying to ...I agree with your post about this movie trying to be so many different things that it doesn't accomplish any of them. But at the same time I loved the fact that Stone didn't go the hatchet job route that I'm sure everyone expected. I can't stand Bush, but treating him as a tragic figure made the movie a lot more enlightening than the alternative.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-76132230986906528372008-10-20T23:01:00.000-05:002008-10-20T23:01:00.000-05:00That is pretty interesting - thanks a lot for the ...That is pretty interesting - thanks a lot for the link!Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-24475558864427034052008-10-20T15:03:00.000-05:002008-10-20T15:03:00.000-05:00No, I read about it (though not that part) but ina...No, I read about it (though not that part) but inadvertently missed it when it was on. There was an interesting (and critical - though hard to say if it's from a right or left perspective) take on it here: http://xpostfactoid.blogspot.com/2008/10/silent-sarah-submits-to-snl-skewering.html (h/t New Republic)Joel Bockohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238338958380683893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-1301175559045641222008-10-20T14:10:00.000-05:002008-10-20T14:10:00.000-05:00Right, just as I told Alexander. I hadn't really t...Right, just as I told Alexander. I hadn't really thought about that until you mentioned it in your review. I also liked your simple description of Brolin playing Bush as a character and not a caricature.<BR/><BR/>"The fact that he's just a well-meaning dope who is out of his element and surrounded by snakes doesn't make me feel any better about the presidency."<BR/><BR/>Haha, well me neither, but just seeing that was sufficient for me, even though actually depicting him as a snake may have been more entertaining.<BR/><BR/>I didn't realize I had seen Banks in so many movies until I checked out her filmography. Shaft, Wet Hot American Summer, Seabiscuit, all the Spider-Man movies, Catch Me If You Can. I knew she looked familiar, but I just thought she looked like somebody else the whole time, maybe Rachel McAdams or somebody.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-65601096711688213472008-10-20T14:01:00.000-05:002008-10-20T14:01:00.000-05:00I'm not sure what my expectations going into the f...I'm not sure what my expectations going into the film were. I honestly didn't know what to make of it and I still don't.<BR/><BR/>The fact that he's just a well-meaning dope who is out of his element and surrounded by snakes doesn't make me feel any better about the presidency. I already knew this. I don't feel like Stone is breaking new ground here.<BR/><BR/>Yet...I didn't completely hate it. Pointless, yes, but not un-entertaining.<BR/><BR/>I think my favorite scene was the BBQ scene. It's what convinced me I wanted to see the movie in the first place. There was something appealing about the scenes between George and Laura. <BR/><BR/>Maybe it was just Elizabeth Banks.Craig Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00924813294666616097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-22183586922701481872008-10-20T12:57:00.000-05:002008-10-20T12:57:00.000-05:00Thanks, Alexander. Surely this must have been disa...Thanks, Alexander. Surely this must have been disappointing after you'd just seen Nixon. I liked Craig's thought on how many of Brolin's best moments here were the quiet bits and discussions with Laura and Poppy.<BR/><BR/>Now that's a really good point, Marilyn. If people walk out of this with any better impression of this administration, we have a serious problem.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for stopping by and commenting, movieman. Did you see Fey Palin on SNL this weekend? That was a funny little trick. I loved when they walked past each other.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-10342222249335691522008-10-20T11:00:00.000-05:002008-10-20T11:00:00.000-05:00"Imagine Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, but instead of p..."Imagine Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, but instead of poking fun she just repeats the actual words of Sarah Palin and delivers them with a straight face. Maybe funny, but not quite as funny, right?"<BR/><BR/>I don't know, it sounds remarkably like what she's been able to do, unfortunately!<BR/><BR/>You can read my review of W. here:<BR/>http://thedancingimage.blogspot.com/2008/10/w.htmlJoel Bockohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238338958380683893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-11494436767922550712008-10-20T08:02:00.000-05:002008-10-20T08:02:00.000-05:00Daniel - I don't think anyone disputes the influen...Daniel - I don't think anyone disputes the influence of other neocons, particularly Cheney, in the disaster of the past 8 years. My concern with a film like this is that it might help rehabilitate the image of people who don't deserve it. That's a popular think for our movie myth makers to do. Long ago, Olver Stone had sympathy for the common soldier (<I>Platoon</I>). I guess those days are gone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-27801007756981908452008-10-20T04:08:00.000-05:002008-10-20T04:08:00.000-05:00I didn't like it as much, Daniel--but your review ...I didn't like it as much, Daniel--but your review makes a number of strong points regardless. In my post earlier this evening at LiC, I focused more on the things that didn't work for me, though I did mention several of the things that did. <BR/><BR/>Brolin in particular is exceptional here, and even critics/people who adamantly disliked the film seem to agree.Coleman's Corner in Cinema...https://www.blogger.com/profile/04761319284479513957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-15632918643971046862008-10-19T20:03:00.000-05:002008-10-19T20:03:00.000-05:00Not to worry, Scott. I've obviously been occupied ...Not to worry, Scott. I've obviously been occupied away from here lately. It's nice to see that people still check in, even if they don't comment.<BR/><BR/>I'm looking forward to reading all of your reviews on W., if and when they happen. Fletch, there's unfortunately a lot more where that video came from...<BR/><BR/>Joe, I was also disappointed by the small scale of WTC. To make a movie about that day and focus so narrowly was a little disappointing. Plus, I was distracted by Maria Bello's glowing electric eyes the whole time. I'd love to read your treatment of this sometime in the next couple of years, especially when we have a little more hindsight to consider.<BR/><BR/>Well, Marilyn, like I said I didn't really learn anything new, but I did find it a good "refresher" of sorts. There's a lot of attention, obviously, on the future right now, but I'm afraid too many people too easily forget the past, even just the last few years.<BR/><BR/>Don't get me wrong about my thoughts on Bush. It's not that I consider him an idiotic puppet. It's just that I don't think he really orchestrated much of what his administration did; he just spoke for it. That doesn't free him from blame, but it expands the blame to all of the people who DID formulate our policies. W. clearly portrays this, even if Stone is guilty of fudging some of the technical details.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-84926149321919879212008-10-19T12:49:00.000-05:002008-10-19T12:49:00.000-05:00I feel bad for not commenting very frequently here...I feel bad for not commenting very frequently here lately. It's just that you're reviewing all the films I want to see so bad but haven't had the time. I usually try to go in to films before reading reviews. <BR/><BR/>That being said, I read the review for W. and now I want to see it even more. I'm a Brolin fan (except for the fact that he's married to Diane Lane...bastard) and I think he's going to make an interesting G.W. Also, Elizabeth Banks as Laura Bush was a great casting choice in my mind. She looks incredible. Hope her performance lives up to my own hype.elgringohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16856962746924193109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-92182579080814204062008-10-18T17:55:00.000-05:002008-10-18T17:55:00.000-05:00I have no idea when this opens here, but based on ...I have no idea when this opens here, but based on a few positive reviews, I hope it hurries the hell up already! Lol, otherwise, good review and a great read indeed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-28138806863310055152008-10-18T15:47:00.000-05:002008-10-18T15:47:00.000-05:00Oliver Stone has long ago emerged from the place w...Oliver Stone has long ago emerged from the place where he was making great film after great film, 1985-1991, but it is a relief that <EM>W.</EM> is not the embarassment that <EM>Alexander</EM> or <EM>World Trade Center</EM> were. I'll be looking forward to it on DVD. Thanks, Daniel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-28094444442691731112008-10-18T15:25:00.000-05:002008-10-18T15:25:00.000-05:00If Oliver Stone wants to be taken seriously, he ou...If Oliver Stone wants to be taken seriously, he ought to stop rewriting history.<BR/><BR/>As for the sitting president - we are known by the company we keep. The president is as culpable in the crimes against humanity as anyone else. He's not stupid (though it's likely he's drugging big time). If you look at him debate before the 2000 elections, he was sharp, precise, and clear in his ideology.<BR/><BR/>If you got something out of the film, good for you. I have no intention of giving my free time over to that thug.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-42508999466895103462008-10-18T11:15:00.000-05:002008-10-18T11:15:00.000-05:00Sorry, I was made too depressed and angered by tha...Sorry, I was made too depressed and angered by that video to read the rest of your review. ;)Fletchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299302086449086987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-38589162079821501022008-10-17T17:43:00.000-05:002008-10-17T17:43:00.000-05:00I am going to see this tonite, so I may as well wa...I am going to see this tonite, so I may as well wait until I get home to look at it. It looks like a worthy, comprehensive review though, and I'll definitely return to compare notes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-89505046249034229682008-10-17T16:27:00.000-05:002008-10-17T16:27:00.000-05:00I saw it with a group of about 15 people, and I'm ...I saw it with a group of about 15 people, and I'm pretty sure I was the only person who liked it. The criticisms are fair: it's not as funny or as edgy as it could have been. But it should it have been? Did it need to be? I think the answers to those questions are arguable. <BR/><BR/>All I know is that it's stayed in my head for most of this week, and when I was watching the debate coverage on TV the other night and Karl Rove showed up, it was both surreal and hilarious. <BR/><BR/>Kind of interesting that I didn't make mention of either Nixon or JFK here. I feel like those two are more similar to each other than they are to W. Granted, I can hardly remember much of Nixon, but I remember those both being a little more linear and a little less amusing than W.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-70056807794335374762008-10-17T16:02:00.000-05:002008-10-17T16:02:00.000-05:00Most interesting, Daniel. You've made me look forw...Most interesting, Daniel. You've made me look forward to this just a little more, especially in light of its rather beleaguered status with critics.<BR/><BR/>I will almost surely see this tonight. I'm right in the middle of writing a review of Stone's <I>Nixon</I>, which I viewed again. Have you seen that, Daniel?Coleman's Corner in Cinema...https://www.blogger.com/profile/04761319284479513957noreply@blogger.com