Professor: 'W.' film aimed at independent voters David Edwards and Stephen C. Webster

Published: Monday October 13, 2008





Print This Email This With just over 20 days to go before the United States selects a new leader, Oliver Stone's latest biopic, W., has its sights set squarely on one key demographic: Independent voters.



"We wanted Americans to see this character, who they voted for, a little bit better," said director Oliver Stone to CNN reporter Kareen Wynter.



"Stephen J. Ross, professor of film and politics as USC, says Stone's decision to release the film just 18 days before the presidential election was no accident," reported Wynter.



"It is the impact, I think, that he wants to have right now," said Ross. "And he's aiming not at the Democrats, not at the Republicans, but at those Independents -- that 20 percent that both sides are still battling for."



The professor also suggested that the marketing campaign for W. could backfire.



"There are people that could see Oliver Stone's film as an example of negative campaigning, as a character smear against an outgoing president," said Ross. "Oliver Stone is a filmmaker who often crosses the line, like Michael Moore."



"Whether it's seen as a character assassination, or art imitating life, W., like most of Stone's films, will probably leave audiences loving or hating it," said Wynter.



When the CNN reporter asked the White House about Stone's latest opus, she received an expected "no comment."



W. will be in theaters nation-wide on Friday.



This video is from CNN's American Morning, broadcast October 13, 2008.









Download video via RawReplay.com





