W

Nebulon is always amused by your earth politics. On my planet all dissenters are crushed mercilessly under the jackboot of the absolute moral authority of supreme leader Zarg III. So it is interesting to see a director such as Oliver Stone not only take on a president, but a sitting president to boot. The film is based around the writing of the axis of evil of speech which was the key moment in the run up to the second Gulf War. In and around the debate on the speech are a number of flash backs to the earlier portions of George W Bush’s life, from college frat boy, to failing business man, to governor and finally, President. This is a long film, but the surprising thing is that so many interesting things are missed out, for instance the 2000 Florida recount and the 9/11 attacks. Nebulon is given to wonder that perhaps George W Bush’s life justifies an entire franchise rather than a single film. If the last few years are anything to go by then W2 is just around the corner. Leaving aside the question of the ending, Nebulon wonders whether or not the treatment of Bush is entirely fair. The movie paints a portrait of a hopeless incompetent whose only concern is to win his father’s love. His advisors, including Toby Jones as a brilliant Karl Rove, are reduced to mere snivelling yes men (with the exception of Colin Powel) who are seen to be propping up a President that is essentially an empty suit. Whether this is a true portrait of the Bush White House is something that only your earth historians can answer, but as a movie, this is an entertaining portrait of a tragic figure. Nebulon has to think though that, in 20 years time, when we re-discover this movie from the smoking hole that was once your planet, we will be unable to separate it from the 2008 US election and the the anti-Bush backlash that has brought Obama to power. Whether this film will still ring true then is any ones guess. Until that day, Nebulon would recommend this film to any one with even a passing interest in US politics, others however may find the subject matter a little too dry to be entertaining.