"I think we agree, the past is over" - George W. Bush
Usually, history renders a larger than life hue to our leaders, the intense evil, tales of bravado and overachievers, we have read all about these. Rarely are the portrayals as they should be, treating them more as people that existed also with their less flattering (or loathsome) selves; with their fair share of strange motives, insecurities and stupidity. W. by Oliver stone is such an attempt. By no means is it a great movie, but its the portrayal of George W. Bush as he was; a man.
The movie follows the story arc of Bush's life, from a college student to his ascendancy as the president and the most powerful (?) person in the world. In between, he is shown with all his insecurities and motives. Whether it is his obssession of his father's approval, his love for baseball, his tryst with religion and his alcoholism of youth and how each of these things contribute to the decisions he makes in his life. What the movie doesn't do is try to justify or defend his actions by adding a humane aspect to his persona, but what it does do is to present him as a man who like most of us committed mistakes (colossal) and is imperfect, and in that sense only, succeeds in evoking some sympathy for this mostly reviled and lampooned person.
And it yet again enforces the thought that how dangerous power is in the hands of anyone as nobody is really free from his biases, imperfections, insecurities and vested interests. And that power and stupidity is a lethal combination.
I would like to see a similar movie made on Indira Gandhi, she's just perfect for such a portrayal.
And clearly, past is never over.
P.S. Josh Brolin as George W. Bush is outstanding.
