I am an ardent fan of the cinematic arts. Although I have certain genre preferences, I don’t let that stifle my curiosity and close myself to different flavors of entertainment. That said...I am a huge fan of science fiction, super hero and action movies! Please visit my other blog The Boxed Office for reviews, exclusively, on these types of movies.
The Cast:
Josh Brolin plays a superb George W. Bush without going over the top with a comedic impression. Jeffrey Wright does well as Colin Powell while Thandie Newton’s Condoleeza Rice just made me laugh every time she had screen time...and I’m sure it wasn’t her intention. Scott Glenn plays a very good Donald Rumsfeld and creates his own gravity with his intensity. The same can be said of Richard Dreyfuss as Dick Cheney, which is no surprise considering the excellent body of work he has done. James Cromwell plays George H.W. Bush and does an adequate rendition of the 41st President.
The Plot:
This biographical take on the 43rd President starts with his early days in college and follows through to his 2004 re-election campaign. Along the way there are glimpses into his military service, governorship of Texas and bid for the Presidency in 2000. The main story settles with his first four years in office and it’s from here that all other glimpses spin from.
During his first term, the decisions and thought process are explored from an insider point of view and we are treated to, seemingly, be on the inside with the Presidential cabinet as they weigh decisions and plan the course of the country.
Made during his first term in office, the film culminates with the 2004 re-election campaign and ends leaving us to ponder the rest of the process that carried on through the next four years of his Presidency.
The Verdict:
Although meant to be a biographical movie, there is very little in the way of accuracy verification that the viewer can do...so it is as much an entertainment presentation, probably more so, than an accurate historical account.
Josh Brolin is excellent as the 43rd President and captures much of what we’ve been able to observe from real life events. The presentation of the subject is mildly entertaining and even with no measure for accuracy, is very thought provoking. Jeffrey Wright raises eyebrows, not so much from his performance...which was very good, but from the idea that Colin Powell was the only voice of reason making all else, by comparison, seem like insanity. Oliver Stone is well known for making films that provoke thought and tug on the conspiring strings of truth versus conjecture...this film is no different in that approach. The best part of the experience isn’t even in the film, it’s a segment on the dvd called “Dangerous Dynasty: The Bush Legacy”...and it’s fascinating enough to give this movie two and a half cinnamon sticks, out of five, in my cup of tea.
No comments:
Post a Comment