USA: Director Oliver Stone talks to the press about his new film "W" which profiles the life of US president Bush

Record ID: 500196

  • Title: USA: Director Oliver Stone talks to the press about his new film "W" which profiles the life of US president Bush
  • Date: 8th October 2008
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (RECENT) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS ELIZABETH BANKS SAYING: "I thought it was a can't say no situation. Cause I just heard Oliver Stone and Josh. You know, it was a package that I really wanted to be a part of. I didn't think about the politics of the movie, and I think that's partially because I don't think Laura Bush i
  • Embargoed: 23rd October 2008 13:00
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  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA566O03ZC8UCMC1JKF1SRR68KD
  • Story Text: Director Oliver Stone talks to the press about his new film "W".
    He follows Bush from his college days through his early years in the White House. The movie stars Josh Brolin as the 43rd president of the United States.
    "W." opens October 17th.
    Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone is talking to the press about his new film "W.," which profiles the life of President George W. Bush. In the movie, Stone follows Bush from his college fraternity days at Yale through the post-911 days in the White House. It was during this period of time that the President was deliberating behind closed doors about whether or not to invade Iraq.
    Stone told Reuters he was intrigued by how a man some considered to be the black sheep of his esteemed family transformed himself into the Leader of the Free World.

    "I'm fascinated by the man. I mean, he's the greatest story of our time, I believe. From nothing, from this ne' er do well fraternity brat, to the most, to a successful, finally at the age of 40 turning his life around, as a successful businessman, and governor, stopping drinking, finding evangelical Christianity, and then becoming an improbable third term, an improbable president in his third act, sets up a question mark, because the third act is what does he do with the presidency. And that's where the tension of the movie lies."
    Stone cast Josh Brolin to play the 43rd president of the United States, George W. Bush. Brolin had primarily spent his first 20 years in front of the camera as a character actor. But he had become more widely known in 2007 with his roles in "No Country For Old Men," "In The Valley of Elah," and "American Gangster." The 40-year-old thespian confided that he initially had reservations about accepting the offer extended by Stone.

    "When he approached me, it was just kind of off the cuff, like hey 'You know what, I got this thing and I think you'd be great for it,'"
    shared Brolin.
    "Suddenly I saw CNN, and I saw people making fun of him all the time and the massive judgement, and I go "Why would I want to do that right now?" It didn't seem like the smartest move. Um, but I didn't feel that way after I read the script. The script was unbelievable. I couldn't deny it, I wanted to, but I couldn't deny it. And my son read the script and said 'You can't not do this' and he was right."
    Actress Elizabeth Banks was chosen to play First Lady Laura Bush. She also felt it was an offer she could not refuse.

    "I thought it was a can't say no situation. 'Cause I just heard Oliver Stone and Josh. You know, it was a package that I really wanted to be a part of. I didn't think about the politics of the movie, and I think that's partially because I don't think Laura Bush is that polarizing as a human being. I think she's kind of, you know, people like George more because he's married to her. You know, I sort of knew I could get through this kind of cleanly."
    Stone says he tried to go behind the Oval Office speeches and press conferences, and present a balanced yet empathetic portrait of George W. Bush.
    However as a filmmaker, Stone added he had to exercise a certain amount of artistic license in order to condense and fit the story into a two-hour screenplay. Stone maintains there was no malice in the endeavour.

    "I had no ax to grind. I may have feelings about the guy, but as a dramatist, I am a professional and I'm a craftsman."
    Stone has previously explored the life of a president in "Nixon," which garnered four Academy Award nominations.

    "W." will be released across North America on October 17, 2008.
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