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W. is a 2008 American biographical film based on the life and presidency of George W. Bush. It was produced and directed by Oliver Stone, written by Stanley Weiser, and stars Josh Brolin as President Bush. Filming began on May 12, 2008, in Louisiana and the film was released on October 17.

George W. Bush (Josh Brolin) endures an alcohol-fueled initiation by fellow Yale students as a pledge for the fictional Delta Iota Kappa fraternity. During the hazing, Bush successfully recalls the names and nicknames of many of the fraternity members and states that his father’s political legacy is one he has no interest in. After the younger Bush is jailed for rowdiness following a football game, his father, Texas Congressman George H.W. Bush (James Cromwell), states that he will help his son, but only for the last time. Bush quits an oil patch job soon after and is accepted into Harvard Business School with the help of his father. Later that night he gets into a drunken fight with the elder Bush. “Junior” then reveals his real aspirations in a father-son talk: being a baseball manager.

At a poker game Bush announces he will run for Congress in Texas. At a barbecue Bush meets Laura Welch (Elizabeth Banks), his future wife. Bush is criticized by his opponent, Democrat Kent Hance, who says that Bush is not a “real Texan” and has spent campaign contributions to throw an alcohol fueled party to underage Texas Tech University students. Bush does poorly in the debate and loses the election, but with the highest number of votes for a Republican candidate in the county’s history.

After turning 40, Bush becomes a born again Christian, gives up alcohol, and mends his relationship with his father, who invites him to assist with his successful presidential campaign, though the younger Bush complains that he only was asked because his brother Jeb was busy. Karl Rove (Toby Jones) tells Bush that he has the potential to make a name for himself, but has not yet done enough in his life to warrant political election. Bush becomes owner of the Texas Rangers while his father oversees the victory of the Gulf War in 100 hours but decides not to invade Iraq and overthrow Saddam Hussein. When Bush’s father loses the 1992 election, Bush blames the loss on the decision not to depose Hussein.

Bush decides to run for Governor of Texas despite his parents’ disapproval. An election win prompts a successful presidential bid in 2000, followed by the September 11 attacks. As President, Bush plans a war with Iraq, and labels America’s enemies — specifically Iraq, North Korea, and Iran — the “axis of evil”. In 2002, Bush begins searching for evidence that Hussein was creating nuclear weapons, and has the army prepared. Bush’s staff supports the president, with the exception of Secretary of State Colin Powell (Jeffrey Wright), who says that invading Iraq would destabilize the country. He is generally overruled by Vice President Dick Cheney (Richard Dreyfuss) and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (Scott Glenn), who insist that the war — deliberately waged without an exit strategy — would secure the U.S.’ status as sole global superpower while spreading democracy throughout the Middle East.

In his 2003 State of the Union, Bush states that “Either you’re with us, or you’re with the terrorists.” In March 2003, the U.S. invades Iraq and, at first, the war appears to be a success. Bush gives his infamous “Mission Accomplished” speech on an aircraft carrier. When it becomes clear that there are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Bush learns that the responsibility for finding them had been relegated far down the chain of command. Bush also discovers that Saddam Hussein gambled his regime and his life on the assumption that Bush was bluffing. Bush is asked in a press conference what mistakes he made as President, a question that leaves him flustered and speechless.

Bush has a nightmare in which his father accuses him of ruining the Bush legacy, which he claims was intended for Jeb. Later, he dreams of playing center field in a baseball game, in which he cannot find the ball.

Cast

• Josh Brolin as George W. Bush: Stone originally cast Christian Bale, who spent months researching for the role, but dropped out after he was not satisfied with the prosthetic makeup tests. Stone remarked, “Christian’s a very methodical actor and he has to have the makeup thing work for him.”Brolin, cast at the “last minute”, spent months working on Bush’s distinctive vocal style, calling hotels in Texas and talking to the people at the front desk, listening to their accents. The actor also watched videos of Bush walking. Brolin said, “It changes over the years, how he walks in his 30s, how he walks in foreign lands, before 9/11 and afterward. People hold their emotions in their bodies. They can’t fake it. Especially him.”
• Elizabeth Banks as Laura Bush: Banks said she would not do an impression of the First Lady. “I just want to honor her voice, her stillness, and her hairstyle”.
• James Cromwell as George H. W. Bush
• Ellen Burstyn as Barbara Bush
• Richard Dreyfuss as Dick Cheney: Stone was interested in Robert Duvall as Cheney, but he turned down the role.
• Jeffrey Wright as U.S. Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell
• Scott Glenn as U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
• Thandie Newton as U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice
• Toby Jones as Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove
• Bruce McGill as CIA Director George Tenet
• Ioan Gruffudd as British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Much of Gruffudd’s intended scene was cut. The scene depicted Blair revealing his intentions to convert to Catholicism, as well as his desire to give the UN and British and US allies more time and greater involvement before declaring war.
• Jennifer Sipes as Susie Evans, Bush’s childhood friend
• Noah Wyle as U.S. Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans
• Rob Corddry as White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer
• Dennis Boutsikaris as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz
• Jason Ritter as Jeb Bush, W.’s brother
• Michael Gaston as General Tommy Franks
• Paul Rae as Congressman Kent Hance
• Stacy Keach as Earle Hudd, Bush’s pastor and spiritual advisor
• Jesse Bradford as Thatcher, Bush’s college buddy
• Marley Shelton as Fran, one of Bush’s girlfriends
• Anne Pressly as Anchorwoman
• Sayed Badreya as Saddam Hussein, President of Iraq
• Teresa Cheung as Miss China
• Colin Hanks as a speechwriter

oliver, stone, w