W.

"A life misunderestimated."

2008 2h 9m EN

😐

6.1

MID

★6.1TMDB · 715

DramaHistory

Synopsis

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The story of the eventful life of George W. Bush—his struggles and triumphs, how he found both his wife and his faith—and the critical days leading up to his decision to invade Iraq.

“A life misunderestimated.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Josh Brolin
George W. Bush
Colin Hanks
Speechwriter #1
Toby Jones
Karl Rove
Dennis Boutsikaris
Paul Wolfowitz
Jeffrey Wright
Colin Powell
Thandiwe Newton
Condoleezza Rice
Scott Glenn
Donald Rumsfeld
Richard Dreyfuss
Dick Cheney

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Oliver Stone
Writers: Stanley Weiser
Languages: Spanish, English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 18 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Spanish, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CAST

Did you know

247+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Oliver Stone, shot by Phedon Papamichael. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Paul Cantelon. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Alexis Chavez shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Josh Brolin and Colin Hanks and Toby Jones carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "A life misunderestimated.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Oliver Stone directs. Phedon Papamichael behind the camera. Paul Cantelon scores. Alexis Chavez cuts. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in Spanish, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 18 years ago.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Spanish, English.
3247+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.
4Directed by Oliver Stone, shot by Phedon Papamichael. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Paul Cantelon. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Alexis Chavez shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Josh Brolin and Colin Hanks and Toby Jones carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "A life misunderestimated.".
9IMDB entry: tt1175491 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 10 themes, including "usa president", "the white house", "politics", "biography".

The technical file

Cinematography: Phedon Papamichael
Original score: Paul Cantelon
Editing: Alexis Chavez
Production design: Derek R. Hill
Costume design: Michael Dennison
Makeup / hair: Trefor Proud
VFX supervisor: John Scheele
Sound: Michael Keller
Stunt coordinator: Mark Norby
Runtime: 129 min · 2h 9m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $25,100,000
Box office: $29,506,464
Return: 118% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: W. (2008)

Awards

Sundance Honorable Mention Short Filmmaking

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Oliver Stone

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

GenerationofSwine2023-01-14
★ 10/10
Eeeehhhhh! I still don't know how to feel about this, and it's been a decade since I first watched it. And then there is the bias that will certainly seep through. I really hate the DNC in 2018...but in the '00's and still today, well, W. was to me what Nixon was to Hunter S. Thompson. There is literally no president I like less than W. So excuse the bias that may pop up here, I try to keep politics out of these in this insanely political age. So, on one hand (and I have been ripping into Stone lately) this is a SOLID Oliver Stone film. Unlike Snowden and World Trade Center, it actually has what you expect from an Oliver Stone film. And I can't not like that. Agree with Stone's politics or not...you go to see an Oliver Stone film because he can leave his mark on it...and this has that mark. So you can sit down and watch it and have that clear "I'm watching an Oliver Stone movie" feeling, and that is always enjoyable when you can do that. But then, it's been a decade since its release and that kind of mutes it. When it came out in 2008, W was still in office and just going to see it made you proud to be an American. Hardly any other country would allow someone to release a film critical of the CURRENT leader while he was still in office. It gave you a great "this is what makes America great" feeling, "this is what puts us above the rest of the world. Thank you Oliver Stone." But, it's been a decade, so you don't get that feeling from watching it now. You don't feel compelled to buy your ticket, and then go back and see it again to celebrate the 1st Amendment. And because of that, a decade later, it kind of makes you feel that it should have been released now instead of then. A decade later you remember the people that were celebrating in the streets when he was finally out. You remember that sense of relief that NOT Bush was in office. You remember the Obama victory...you remember the St. Paul horror, and the sense that the DNC could have run a rotting corpse and won. And then, after you remember all of that, you get the feeling that it would have made a better ending if Stone just waited a year to make the film. But despite all of that, it was a fair film. It was balanced (unlike this review) and that's probably because of what my late father used to say, he hated W. as a president, but felt he'd like him as a person. Which, unfortunately, is an attitude you're regrettably not allowed to have today. But that doesn't change the fact that you still feel like you are watching an Oliver Stone movie. It doesn't change the feeling of pride you got by going to see W. in the theaters when it was released. It doesn't change the fact that it is still a good movie...even if it's a better movie for the people that are old enough to remember it.
tmdb516161672024-09-02
★ 7/10
"W." is a film that delves into the presidency of George W. Bush, showcasing the historical significance of every individual who holds the highest office in the United States. The movie suggests that every president deserves a biography that captures their time in office, regardless of their successes or failures. Josh Brolin delivers a standout performance as George W. Bush, despite initial skepticism about his casting in the role. He effectively embodies the essence of Bush, portraying him as a somewhat goofy and party-loving figure who may not have taken his political responsibilities seriously at first. The film sheds light on Bush's journey to the presidency, depicting his struggles and personal growth leading up to the events before 9/11. It offers a captivating insight into Bush's term in office, particularly his decisions regarding going to war during his first term. Overall, "W." is a film that exceeds expectations and is worth watching for its portrayal of a complex political figure.