EW's Article On Stone's Bush Biopic is Online

Doesn't really say much at all unfortunately

By: Brad Brevet
Published: Thursday, May 8th 2008 at 11:53 AM

The pic to the right and the cover image really are the only good parts of Entertainment Weekly's article on Oliver Stone's George Bush biopic titled W. It does talk about the trouble the film has had finding footing with a studio, but also mentions how it looks like Lionsgate may be the one to step in and get the film into theaters as early as October, but more likely in November.

Stone is quoted saying how many actors wouldn't even go near the picture. "They hate Bush so much, they can't understand why I'd want to make a movie about him," he says. "They hate him so much, they can't even imagine themselves playing him or playing anybody around him."

However, it does mention how he managed to nab Josh Brolin for the lead role and how for the past couple of months Brolin has been driving his wife, Diane Lane, crazy, struggling to master the president's inimitable vocal style. "I'm talking to myself all day long," Brolin says. "Sometimes I'll call hotels in Texas and talk to the people at the front desk just to listen to their accents. And I've been watching a lot of video of Bush walking. It changes over the years, how he walks in his 30s, how he walks in foreign lands, before 9/11 and afterwards. People hold their emotions in their bodies. They can't fake it. Especially him."

I would have posted the Elizabeth Banks comments on how she is approaching Laura Bush, but it read more like, "Blah, blah, blabbedy, her stillness, blah." What a pat, Hollywood-like answer.

As to the controversy Stone gives a great answer saying, "I'm tired of defending the accuracy of my movies. I'm past that now. JFK was a case to be proven, Nixon was a penetrating biography of a complex and dark man. But I'm not bound by those strictures anymore. Bush is not a complex and dark man, so it's different. This movie can be funnier because Bush is funny. He's awkward and goofy and makes faces all the time. He's not your average president. So let's have some fun with it. What are they going to do? 'Discredit' me again?"

I think he is going to find it is much harder for folks to hound him on his films if he just shrugs it off with an "I don't give a shit" attitude. Hard to attack a man and his work when he doesn't care what you have to say.

As for that October/November release, the producers insist the film will be ready by then; they're already planning to run TV spots opposite John McCain's ads this fall.

Like Bush? Hate him? Who cares, you have to at least have a passing interest in this flick if you are an American. For the full spread click here.

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