Oct 20 2008 Everyone Loved 'Max Payne' Last Weekend
The weekend box office went thusly:
1. Max Payne - $18 million. I thought I'd be happy that talking dogs were no longer the #1 movie, but I've decided talking Mark Wahlberg can often be just as bad.
2. Beverly Hills Chihuahua - $11.2 million. No, never mind. Forget everything I said. Talking dogs are worse.
3. The Secret Life of Bees - $11.1 million, because everyone wants to know just what the hell bees have been up to all these years.
4. W. - Made $10.6 million and successfully convinced most audiences not to vote for Bush this time.
5. Eagle Eye - $7.3 million. So, anyway, an eagle's eye: best eye? Probably.
Weekend Box Office Results [Box Office Mojo]
Sep 25 2008 'W' Trailer Makes Commentary on Bush's Funny Face and Post-Punk Policies
Alright, Oliver Stone, if you want to make your W trailer into an abbreviated Talking Heads video, that's fine, but at least make Josh Brolin do the appropriate dance moves for it. As it stands, he's just doing a lot of funny faces and spitting pretzel out of his mouth, which doesn't make for that entertaining of a movie. Still though: take that, Bush!
Continue Reading " 'W' Trailer Makes Commentary on Bush's Funny Face and Post-Punk Policies "
Aug 20 2008 Josh Brolin Does an Uncomfortably Decent Bush Impression
I've decided I'm not comfortable with this melding of Bush and Goonies. I hear the voice of Bush but the face is obviously Brolin, resulting in a union as unsettling as when Dana Barrett speaks in the voice of Zuul, and in French Spanish*, or when babies have adult voices.
*Yes, that's two Ghostbusters references for the day. Jealous?
Continue Reading " Josh Brolin Does an Uncomfortably Decent Bush Impression "
Aug 19 2008 New 'W' Poster Puts Brolin in Oval 'Office'
I just saw this new poster for Oliver Stone's W over at FirstShowing, and I couldn't help but notice a startling resemblance to a certain other obliviously-self-confident, stupid boot-clad, reclining idiot-leader.
It got me thinking...
Continue Reading " New 'W' Poster Puts Brolin in Oval 'Office' "
Aug 5 2008 Oliver Stone's 'W' Poster Finds More Flaws in Bush's Polished Veneer
Whoa, wait a minute. You mean to tell me that aside from entering into an unwinnable war, overstepping the limits of the executive branch, and using fear tactics to strip citizens of their basic liberties, this dude's been wearing make-up to appear more presentable for television cameras? And rather than delivering speeches in a voice so resounding it would echo through the halls of every foreclosed home in the country, he's been using microphones? And he's still in office? If all this is going on, he's probably been brushing his teeth and regularly showering, too. Thank you for another eye-opening exposé, Oliver Stone. Leno monologues usually have me laughing too hard to understand their significance, and rarely suggest Bush may be sneaking a peek during his grooming. But this... this speaks volumes.
Jul 29 2008 'W' Trailer Will Surely Lose Bush His 'Easily Swayed by Caricatures' Supporters
Well, the W trailer is out, and anyone who was worried Oliver Stone wouldn't present a fair representation can put their fears to bed. It totally seems like a fair fight when W is about to literally fist fight his president father.
Continue Reading " 'W' Trailer Will Surely Lose Bush His 'Easily Swayed by Caricatures' Supporters "
Jun 5 2008 Oliver Stone's 'W' Teaser Poster
"Here's what I'm thinking for the poster: just a 'W'. Clean, simple, elegant. Actually, now that I think about it, maybe it should also have a pronunciation key, so everyone knows how funny it is how Bush pronounces 'W'--make it sort of like a dictionary entry. While we're at it, also throw something up about what an unlikely president he is. And maybe a quote--one of those goofy things Bush is known for saying. Two quotes, maybe? A dozen--let's go with a dozen. Is there still room for a picture of Bush wearing a dunce cap, and using a bomb as a pacifier? No? OK, we'll save that. I just hope this isn't too subtle."
'W' Poster [Ion Cinema]
May 8 2008 First Impressions: Josh Brolin as 'W'
The only thing stranger than watching Josh Brolin do a two-hour impression of Will Ferrell doing an impression of George W. Bush (or possibly of an old, nondescript man toiling through a lemon) will be watching Jason Sudeikis doing an impression of Josh Brolin's impression for the SNL parody. Why not just get the guy from Harold and Kumar, and stop pretending the line between impression and acting-tribute is so distinct?
The EW cover that also includes Elizabeth Banks as Laura Bush-impression is below the cut.
Apr 8 2008 'W' Administration Isn't Based on Professional Sports Schedules?
Apparently the Bush film that casts Josh Brolin as the president and Elizabeth Banks as Laura might not be entirely accurate? The Hollywood Reporter has sent a copy of Oliver Stone's W script to four notable Bush biographers to get their comments, and they've had some mixed reactions. Notably, Dead Certain author Robert Draper criticized the screenplay, saying, "It leaves you with the impression that the White House is run as a fraternity house with no reverence for hierarchy, the office itself or for the implications of policy ... This notion that his schedule is driven by what's on ESPN is ludicrous." Apparently that notion completely neglects the ESPN 2 schedule, since Bush will never enter a meeting until the Atlas Ball competition has determined the World's Strongest Man.
Apr 7 2008 Newton and Gruffudd Appropriately Join 'W' Cast
Oliver Stone, continuing his trend of not-at-all glamorizing his George W. Bush biopic, has cast Thandie Newton and Ioan Gruffudd as Condoleeza Rice and Tony Blair, respectively. As you may recall, they join a cast that already confusingly includes Elizabeth Banks as Laura Bush and Josh Brolin as W himself.
Clearly the announcement of Jessicas Alba and Biel as the Bush daughters can't be far behind, but who do you think Stone will go with for Cheney? I'd say smart money is on a bald-capped George Clooney.
Thandie Newton, Ioan Gruffudd cast in 'W' [Hollywood Reporter]
Mar 27 2008 Serious Actors Join 'W'
Oliver Stone's George W. biopic has taken one more step in its quest to become a near-parody of itself, adding two more unlikely yet somehow completely expected cast members: Ellen Burstyn and James Cromwell as Ma and Pa Bush. Like Stone's casting of Anthony Hopkins in the role of Nixon, and the more recent acquisition of Josh Brolin as W. himself, these casting choices just scream "I'm making a serious movie with actors, not impressionists--oh, and one hottie."
Don't worry, Dana Carvey. Maybe you can still get a cameo as Perot.
Oliver Stone casts parents of 'W' [Variety]
Mar 26 2008 'Plain Jane' Banks Playing Laura Bush in 'W'
The Hollywood Reporter has announced that Meet Dave and Meet Bill star Elizabeth Banks is in final talks to portray Laura Bush in W, wacko Oliver Stone's biopic of bumper sticker subject George W. Bush. Aside from my initial shock that "Meet" isn't in the title, I'm surprised and pleased Stone is going with normal, everyday people instead of trying to glam it up, Hollywood style. He could have easily gone with some typical, inappropriate "pretty girl" casting for the First Lady, but instead he's chosen just an average girl with flowing blonde hair, sharp, angular features, and a svelte young figure that, for whatever reason, looks amazing in a tight white tank-top. The actress will join the perfectly ordinary, not at all chiseled-featured, Josh Brolin (playing W.), who was somehow able to marry the beautiful Diane Lane despite his everyday, average-Joe looks.
Elizabeth Banks cast as Laura Bush [Hollywood Reporter]
