Tuesday
Aug192008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 2:03PM Surprise: New 'W.' Posters Still Playing the Idiot Card
I don't remember if it was in an e-mail or in a comment
attached to a previous article about the subject, but someone made the point to
me that the ad campaign for
W. is more in line with the short-lived Comedy
Central show
That's My Bush than a serious fact-finding
mission by an Oscar-winning director. I'm increasingly inclined to agree.
There are two new posters, which we discovered at
Worst Previews, that once again go for the
obvious Bush-bashing punchline. I never voted for the guy, thought the Iraq
invasion was a terrible, unlawful mistake five years ago, consider him the worst
President since his distant relative Franklin Pierce, and I certainly am not
trying to deflect criticism away from our absolutely inept leader. But I've been
saying this about W. and
Oliver Stone ever since we saw the first
trailer: It's easy to make fun of George Bush, and I don't need your movie for
that. I can just watch The Daily Show.
While there's nothing unfair about using a man's own
words against him - as these posters do with "misunderestimate" - shouldn't the
movie strive to be more than what looks like Inspector Clouseau in a president's
clothing? I have yet to see a poster or a trailer that isn't just picking on
Bush's obvious shortcomings. At this rate, those groups boycotting Tropic
Thunder are going to have a busy couple of months.
Anyway, I just feel that there are more serious issues
the movie could examine. And maybe it will. If it is more weighty and
introspective, then the posters are incredibly misleading. If the posters are
accurate to the tone and scope of the film, though, it is Stone who is
misleading.
Reader Comments (18)
The genius of this all is that Ollie and his marketing crew are playing to the lowest common denominator, which could actually bring MORE people into the theater than it drives away...
Of course it could all be an amazing smokescreen. I'd hate to think Brolin would cash in on his amazing year with what this "appears" to be.
(by the way, "The Chicago Seven" Should be opening between now and October 17, as well)...
Why is it still getting made?
It could be a smokescreen, but why? Wouldn't you play up a serious, award-worthy movie for what it is rather than casting it as a comedy it won't be? If it's a smokescreen, I'm very confused by the strategery.
To be more fair, not as unlawful as you think because of the fact Iraq was in violation of UN resolutions since the gulf war. The corruption in the UN was found because of the Iraq War, millions of dollars were going to Saddam and not for food(look up oil for food scandal), but the media never talks about the good that has come with the War. The war is over, and its just terrorist and pissed off people fighting amongst themselves.
Congress is as much to blame as Bush. Just trying to be fair and balanced. I do not think Bush is the greatest president but I give him credit for trying because I could not imagine doing what Presidents have to do on a daily basis knowing that people are not going to like what you do.
Its nice to see someone that hates Bush so much still give him credit for being a president though.
I would enjoy the posters more if they didn't contradict the supposed direction of the movie. That being said, I don't mind them in their own right.
brandon,
i'll just cover one detail in your rant. if "the war is over", as you say, i'm sure you won't object to all of our troops coming home tomorrow.
i'm sure when the democrats win as big as they will in november, it'll be the media's fault. it won't, by any means, be the fault of lock-step voting, republican members of congress who supported bush's failed policies at every turn - until 2006 when they lost their majority. that'll be the media's fault. it won't, at all, be the fault of politicians who only decided to start to listen to the americans they represent when their own political survival [their jobs] was at stake.
that'll be the media's fault, too.
btw, oliver stone last made an "oscar-worthy" movie when?
The script is actually pretty sympathetic to Bush, but it's probably easier to sell the film as an outright comedy. Yes, the wild partying and boozing of Bush's youth is shown, but it's contrasted with his decision to pursue, more or less successfully, a career in politics. The script is very serious in that respect. Like Nixon, the script suggests that Bush is not evil and stupid, just flawed.
I apologize if it seemed like a rant, just seems that people tend to forget facts or ignore them if something rubs them the wrong way. I do not know what point you are getting at with the media, nothing is their fualt. I blame viewers for not making an effort to balance their sources. I read CNN and liberal press material a lot even though I am republican just to be more open minded about things.
Troops are still in South Korea but nobody cares, why aren't we asking to bring them home?
The genocide in Iraq from the insurgency to the suicide bombers needs to be stopped, it is the by product of the war that the U.S. started. To leave such a place in the state it is in would be unjust and unfair to those that live there.
If the movie is like that Mky, it might be interesting but I do not understand why they are advertising it the way they are. Maybe because they are afraid that people will not go see the film if positive towards Bush. I have no clue, but am curious as all.