Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
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.
Oliver Stone's biopic of George W. Bush offers a sympathetic yet critical portrait that benefits from solid ensemble performances, particularly Josh Brolin's committed lead turn. The film's structure alternating between Bush's formative years and the Iraq War deliberations is serviceable but uneven, never quite achieving the dramatic momentum Stone's best work delivers. Cinematography is functional and unremarkable for a Stone film, lacking the visual invention of JFK or Nixon. The ending feels abrupt and unsatisfying, dropping the narrative without a strong dramatic resolution. Novelty gets a slight bump for Stone's relatively humanizing approach to such a controversial sitting president, but the biopic template is familiar territory.