W trailer leaks: Film follows Bush from drunkard to president

David Edwards and Nick Juliano

Published: Monday July 28, 2008





Print This Email This

From drunken buffoon to president

A leaked trailer for Oliver Stone's new biopic W suggests the film will focus on George W. Bush's transition from youthful drunken lout to President of the United States with one question in mind: Just how did this happen?

The 90-second trailer appeared online Sunday night, ahead of its official debut Monday on tabloid TV show Access Hollywood. It was quickly pulled from YouTube but remained on DailyMotion and is reproduced below.

The trailer suggests the film will examine a difficult relationship between President Bush and his father, who is portrayed as disappointed in his son's youthful indiscretions.

"What are you cut out for? Partying? Chasing tail? Driving drunk?" George H. W. Bush, played by James Cromwell, asks the title character, played by Josh Brolin. "Who do you think you are, a Kennedy? You're a Bush dammit! Act like one."

Stone's quickly crafted biopic is scheduled for an Oct. 17 release, just two weeks before this year's presidential election. Republican nominee John McCain has been saddled with Bush' abysmal approval ratings, and such an unflattering portrayal of his party's standard-bearer for the last eight years is unlikely to help his chances against Democrat Barack Obama.

Instant reviews have been mixed for the latest offering from the widely acclaimed director, whose previous films have examined the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon's presidency and the 9/11 attacks.

"I love Oliver Stone when hes working at peak form, but bad oliver Stone is almost too painful to contemplate. I had no idea what to expect from W., and until this teaser trailer, I wasnt excited," writes a reviewer at Ain't It Cool News. "I am now."

Writing at the political satire site Wonkette, editor Ken Layne was less impressed.

"Just looks terrible, all around," he writes. "Of course, no biopic could ever compare with the rancid stupid tragedy that is the life of George W. Bush, who should have been cremated at birth."

This video is from Dailymotion.com, broadcast July 28, 2008.



Download video

