BuzzSugar

W Gets a Poster and a College Roommate

BuzzSugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:48:10 -0700

Casting for Oliver Stone's movie W, based on the presidency of George W. Bush, just continues to roll along and so far it all seems a little. . . absurd (the idea of Elizabeth Banks as Laura Bush just makes me chuckle, for example). Today there's a poster, which gives us some new hints at what we can expect. I'm now willing to predict that this will be total and utter farce, given that the poster is simply a roundup of some of the most. . . questionable statements George Bush has ever uttered.

As for the latest casting news, Jesse Bradford (a.k.a. that guy from Bring It On and Swimfan) has been added to the group as Thatcher, president of Bush's fraternity. Shooting is underway as I type in Shreveport, LA and the movie will be careening toward a theater near you this October.

So, what do you make of all this? Will this movie be brilliant? Could you see it as a drama, or do, too, you think it'll be farcical?

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Stone Finds His Cheney in Richard Dreyfuss

BuzzSugar — Thu, 22 May 2008 12:00:23 -0700

Come this Fall, the current administration will be movin' out of the spotlight just as Oliver Stone's movie about it is heading to theaters. As reported earlier this month, W. will be released October 17, 2008 so it's no wonder the casting news continues to break at a rapid pace. They've got George and Laura, and even found their British Prime minister and National Security Advisor-turned-Secretary of State but one of the most buzzed-about casting slots left to fill was that of Vice President Cheney. Now there's news that Richard Dreyfuss will likely fill those shoes.

The Hollywood Reporter notes similar public service roles Dreyfuss has taken on in his career thus far:

The 60-year-old Dreyfuss has never played a U.S. leader, but has had a few related roles. He starred as an opposition senator to Michael Douglas' commander in chief in 1995's The American President, as Alexander Haig in a television movie about Ronald Reagan and played the president of a banana republic in the 1980s comedy Moon Over Parador.

Usually Dreyfuss' name makes me think of Mr. Holland's Opus and What About Bob. Still, I think the acting veteran will have no problem pulling off this, ah, controversial White House guy. Rob Corddry is also signed on to play the president's former Press Secretary Ari Fleischer and Toby Jones will step in as Karl Rove. I believe that just leaves Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld open. Got ideas?

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Thandie Is Condi and Gruffudd Is Blair in Stone's Bush Movie

BuzzSugar — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:30:45 -0700

Ordinarily, I wouldn't care quite so much about all the casting news for one movie, but Oliver Stone's project about George W. Bush is different. These are political figures that everyone is familiar with, and the project is about a president who's still currently in power. I have to admit, I'm intrigued. I wish I'd thought to do a recast challenge for this film, though so far I think the casting decisions have been interesting.

The most recent news has to do with National Security Advisor-turned-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and British prime minister Tony Blair, who will be played by Thandie Newton and Ioan Gruffudd, respectively. Newton is the first non-American cast member in this project to portray a US political figure.

In regard to the script itself, Hollywood Reporter remarks:

As one of the few cabinet members to serve during both Bush terms, Rice's role in the Bush White House is seen as pivotal. According to those who've read the W script, Rice is said to be in a key first scene as well as a number of scenes connected to the Iraq War. Blair also appears in Iraq-related scenes.

Still yet to cast: Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, and advisor Karl Rove. Any ideas about who should play these parts?

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Oliver Stone Elects Josh Brolin to Play George W. Bush

BuzzSugar — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 12:31:31 -0800

With just about a year to go in the presidency of George W. Bush, Oliver Stone has set his sights on a biopic about the nation's 43rd president. Josh Brolin, fresh off his turn in No Country for Old Men, has signed on to play the title role.

Bush is sure to be a controversial project coming from Stone, who hasn't exactly been the most subtle critic of the president's administration. But he told Variety his personal feelings about Bush weren't the point. He said:

Here, I'm the referee, and I want a fair, true portrait of the man. How did Bush go from an alcoholic bum to the most powerful figure in the world? It's like Frank Capra territory on one hand, but I'll also cover the demons in his private life, his bouts with his dad and his conversion to Christianity, which explains a lot of where he is coming from. It includes his belief that God personally chose him to be president of the United States, and his coming into his own with the stunning, preemptive attack on Iraq. It will contain surprises for Bush supporters and his detractors.

Well, it's not the most neutral statement I've ever heard (nor is the project's development title of "Misunderestimated"), but I'm still curious to see what Stone will do with this one. I'm also eager to see Brolin go from outlaw to Commander in Chief. I wouldn't have pictured it at first, but Stone pointed out that while "Josh is actually better looking than Bush," they do share a certain old Hollywood swagger.

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