How can a movie that is supposed to be about the personal, political and psychological evolution of the current president use fictional conversations that are supposed to show insight of Little Bush?
While the Bushes in this scene from 1990 were talking about the Texas Rangers (of whom George W. once owned a share) and Saddam Hus- sein (against whom George H. W. was about to go to war in Kuwait), there was much more at stake, as Stone and screenwriter Stanley Weiser saw the fictional conversation unfolding.
"You need to back him down and take him out - like you did Noriega," George W. tells his father about Hussein. The elder Bush wasn't sure he was going to be that rash. "You know I've always believed in leaving personal feelings out of politics," the 41st president told his son. "But Saddam - this aggression cannot stand. Not gonna allow this little dictator to control 25% of the world's oil."
It's going to be like his other craptastic movie, JFK, which was only his interpretation of what happened and not based on fact. Unfortunately, a lot will take his gospel as truth, just like JFK.
Stone also continues to call the movie a 'biography' instead of what it really is.
Stone, Brolin and the filmmaking team believe they are crafting a biography so honest that loyal Republicans and the Bushes themselves might see it. Given Stone's filmmaking history, coupled with a sneak peek at an early "W." screenplay draft, that prediction looks like wishful thinking.
The movie has hired a former Bush colleague as an advisor, and labored to get the smallest details right. For all the historical accuracy, though, "W." is clearly a work of fiction.
"We are playing with our own opinions and our own preconceptions of him," Stone said. "This is his diary - his attempt to explain himself."
ack-ack
