Could W. Be Stone's Surprise?

The first reviews of W. are in, and the pro-Bush crowd will be relieved to learn that, far from a stewpot of leftwing conspiracy, Oliver Stone’s latest is a "relatively even-handed, restrained treatment of recent politics" (Variety) that "goes out of [its] way to give Bush a fair hearing" (Hollywood Reporter). Josh Brolin hits a home run with his "arresting" and "pitch-perfect" portrayal of Dubya, but the film doesn’t much exceed “the basic requirements of pulling off this quick-draw portrait of still-evolving history.” According to Variety, the scenes of younger Bush are best. One involves Bush’s failed first run for Congress. After his opponent calls him "a carpetbagger from Connecticut," he replies, "There's no way I'll ever be out-Texased or out-Christianed again." That sounds like the president we know. The film opens October 17.