W. Blu-ray delivers great video and solid audio in this excellent Blu-ray release
'W.' takes viewers through George Walker Bush's eventful life -- his struggles and
triumphs, how he found both his wife and his faith, and of course the critical days
leading up to Bush's decision to invade Iraq.
For more about W. and the W. Blu-ray release, see the W. Blu-ray Review
Throughout the history of the United States of America, there have only been a handful of
Presidents who have managed to achieve the dual levels of both vilification and adoration
experienced by George W.
Bush, while still in office. Perhaps it's fitting that such a polarizing figure would end up as
the latest in a
series of politically-charged films from often controversial Director, Oliver Stone. When word
leaked out about his
new film,
W., right-wingers cried foul while left-wingers were left in anticipation of a scathing
film that would finally present the world with their case against the still-sitting President.
It's safe to say at this point that both groups couldn't have been more wrong. Instead,
Stone delivered a film that was an even-handed and remarkably sympathetic look into
possible and probable events in the President's past that potentially shaped him into the
controversial figure he is
today. For better or for worse, W. is a film that forces its audience to take a step
back and reconsider, for a moment, the possibility that George W. Bush might not be exactly
who they
think he is - - regardless of any pre-conceived politics or, more specifically, opinions of the
man.
It's state of the union time...
W. tells the story of George W. Bush's (Josh Brolin) difficult and unlikely ascent into
American politics. As the child of a prominent political and business-oriented family, Bush's
early life was one of privilege and disappointment as he attended the finest schools, ran in
the highest of social circles, yet seemed to lack the desire for the level of achievement that
had been a hallmark of his father's life. Bush was the dark horse of his family and had taken
to the rough and tumble antics of his adopted home of Midland, Texas. He coasted through
life until experiencing a startling transformation that placed his sights on the family
business: politics. The film flashes between Bush's early life and his first term in office;
oftentimes offering keen insight into his motivations and desires. W. is a film that
allows the audience to judge for themselves.
I have to admit to being surprised by W.. It's a compelling and expertly acted film
that doesn't try to hit viewers over the head with assumptions and judgment calls. Josh
Brolin embodies the President so completely that he simply becomes the man after only a
few minutes of screen time. That's a lofty achievement considering that the nuances of
Bush's speech and demeanor are as familiar to most people as are their own. The film
offers an amazing cast, some more effective in their roles than others, but still remarkably
convincing. Special notice must be given to Elizabeth Banks for her uncanny portrayal of
Laura Bush and Thandie Newton for being an absolute dead-ringer for Condoleeza Rice.
Both performances are astounding. Ultimately, though, this is Brolin's film and he carries it
with a sense of purpose and authority while never stooping to caricature.
I think the biggest issue most viewers will experience with W. is that it makes a
point of not making a statement. For those dreaming of a film where Bush is crucified on the
world stage and made to look like a bumbling fool, this isn't that film. Those wishful thinkers
out there who longed for Oliver Stone to craft a glowing portrait of a perfect man with an
inspiring origin story will also be disappointed. W. simply presents the supposed
facts of Bush's life preceding his presidency, in a matter of fact way; never making a point to
point a finger or emphasize a characteristic, be it positive or negative. All the film's
information is there for the viewer to digest in whatever manner they choose to.
W. made an impact on me as a showcase of restraint. I heartily recommend the film
to Bush bashers, Bush supporters and even those who really don't care. Perhaps none of
its content is factual; maybe every bit is absolutely true. Either way, we'll never know for
sure, but W. will stand the test of time as a film that attempted, as fairly as
possible, to figure George W. Bush out.
W. was filmed on a fairly low budget; a fact that is noticeable in its video quality.
While the film doesn't look cheap by any means, it doesn't even begin to approach the
glossier and more stylized look of Mr. Stone's previous Presidential films, Nixon and
JFK. Rather, W. has the look and feel of a grittier indie film with ample grain
and a more naturalistic approach to cinematography. Director of Photography Phedon
Papmichael's quasi-documentary-like photography has been transferred to Blu-ray in full
1080p; utilizing the AVC Mpeg-4 compression codec while retaining the film's theatrical
aspect ratio of 2.35:1.
Having seen W. theatrically, I can confirm that this Blu-ray disc accurately
reproduces the film's overall appearance. Colors are generally muted, though splashes of
more vivid color are featured as the film switches between Bush's early life and his days in
the White House. Contrast is about average and black levels are mostly stable with the
occasional crushed scene. Detail is also about average and never quite achieves the levels
that are reached on the best Blu-ray transfers. Of course, W. looks precisely as it
should and any attempt at increasing detail or altering the color palette would simply render
the film in a manner inconsistent with what was intended while adding unwanted picture
anomalies. As it stands, W. is what it is on Blu-ray. Recommended.
There's not much to work with on the audio side of W.. It's a completely dialogue-
driven affair with little surround activity or dimensionality. Fortunately, Lionsgate has still
given the film the full lossless DTS HD-Master Audio treatment and has therefore
guaranteed that this Blu-ray edition is as true to the source as possible. As one would
hope, dialogue is expertly rendered while never shrill or incomprehensible. Paul Cantelon's
original score anchors the audio presentation in the front three channels by providing a nice
stereo soundstage that frames the film's center channel dialogue. There were occasional
rear-fill elements to the mix that opened the soundstage up just a hair, but nothing terribly
noticeable. W. sounds as it should on Blu-ray; just don't expect much excitement
from this track.
- Audio commentary with Director Oliver Stone
- "Dangerous Dynasty: The Bush Presidency"
- "No Stranger to Controversy: Oliver Stone's George W. Bush"
- Deleted Scenes
W. comes to Blu-ray with a small but effective collection of extras. Oliver Stone
provides the best supplement of the set with his feature length commentary track. Stone is
a passionate guy and it is clear that he took an even-handed approach on W..
"Dangerous Dynasty: The Bush Presidency" presents interviews with political experts that
explore the divisive nature of George W. Bush's administration. It's a very pointed and
partisan documentary that will likely delight Bush's detractors while annoying his
supporters. Next, "No Stranger to Controversy: Oliver Stone's George W. Bush" presents a
behind the scenes look into the production of W.. It's more of a puff piece than
anything else, but it does manage to include a few informative interviews with members of
the cast and crew. Finally, a number of throwaway deleted scenes are included.
Oliver Stone's W. is a fascinating portrait into the possible personal history of one of
the United States' most controversial Presidents. The film explores George W. Bush's
presidency and past without stooping to mockery or grand hyperbole. Perhaps that's why
the film didn't perform as well as expected at the box office this past year. Bush haters
were probably disappointed that the film didn't skewer the President; his supporters likely
felt that the movie was mostly fiction. In spite of any perceived political agenda present
within the production, the film is incredibly entertaining and will doubtlessly inspire
numerous heated debates between friends and family members. Lionsgate presents
W. in a manner true to the film's theatrical exhibition by delivering both the video
and audio as faithfully as possible. Supplements are limited while still being interesting. It's
not a surprise that as a film, W. was both hailed and blasted by critics and
audiences, much like the President himself. Regardless of one's own political affiliations,
W. is worth checking out. Recommended.
Lionsgate Home Entertainment has announced the special features for three of their upcoming films, including 'Saw V', 'Repo! The Genetic Opera', and 'W.'. The first two films are due to hit store shelves on January 20th, while 'W.' will come out a few weeks later ...
