Favorite W Scene

As part of a discussion of John Horn's recent L.A. Times piece about a visit to the set of Oliver Stone's W, Patrick Goldstein posted a page from Stanley Weiser's script. Noting Horn's observation that the film "is heavily focused on the current president's relationship with his father," i.e., ex-President George H.W. Bush, Goldstein chose a scene in which Bush, Jr. tries to comfort Poppy on the night of his electoral loss to Bill Clinton in 1992.


So what the hell -- here's my favorite scene. (I can play this game too...no?) It's basically George Bush, Jr. vs. his mother, Barbara Bush -- Page 92, Page 93 and Page 94.

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 1, 2008 at 5:08 PM

comment #1

Mgmax, le Corbeau Author Profile Page says ...

On the one hand, this is Stone repeating the same obvious Psych 101 approach he took to explaining Nixon.

On the other hand, this one might actually have some validity to it.

Posted by Mgmax, le Corbeau Author Profile Page at July 1, 2008 5:27 PM

comment #2

p.Vice Author Profile Page says ...

This would be a great scene if W happened to be dressed in diapers and a bib.

Posted by p.Vice Author Profile Page at July 1, 2008 6:02 PM

comment #3

D.Z. Author Profile Page says ...

Sounds kind of limp to me, considering Kitty Kelley covered the same territory... BTW, the link for 94 uses the same page as the link for 92.

Posted by D.Z. Author Profile Page at July 1, 2008 6:08 PM

comment #4

D.Z. Author Profile Page says ...

Forgot to add Kitty Kelley and Harold and Kumar 2.

Posted by D.Z. Author Profile Page at July 1, 2008 6:09 PM

comment #5

DarthCorleone Author Profile Page says ...

That dialogue is WAY TOO on the nose. Seriously, it reads like a bad soap opera to me. I guess good actors can sell it, but color me skeptical.

Posted by DarthCorleone Author Profile Page at July 1, 2008 6:14 PM

comment #6

StanGrossman Author Profile Page says ...

It's no 1000 words...

Posted by StanGrossman Author Profile Page at July 1, 2008 6:25 PM

comment #7

Griff Author Profile Page says ...

Reminds me of my script in progress, "The Hope of Audacity", where Barack is talking to Michelle just after he's repudiated Reverend Wright.

Barack: "Michelle, I had to do it. He was keeping us down."

Michelle: "That's what Whitey does! He keeps us down! Reverend Wright doesn't do that."

Barack: "Reverend Wright isn't the Man, honey."

Michelle: "That's because the Man keeps us down! The Man from Hope was trying to keep you down!"

Barack (patiently): "That's what the Man does, Michelle."

Michelle: "As God is my witness, I'll never eat turnips again!"

Posted by Griff Author Profile Page at July 1, 2008 7:56 PM

comment #8

DavidF Author Profile Page says ...

Ugh.
Every time I see these pages they seem like they MUST be a parody.

They're waaaaaaaaaay beyond "on the nose"

-Why do you want to kill Saddam, Mr Main Character, sir?
-He tried to hurt me daddy and don't no one do that!

-Why, son, would you want to beat popular governor Ann Richards. She's so popular!
-She picked on ma daddy!

It spells everything out, it lies there on the page and it certainly doesn't offer anything interesting to say (unless you count his predeliction for saying "poppy") about a man who may well be one of the worst presidents the USA has ever seen.

Maybe when I see the tone Stone is going for it will all make sense but on the page it's worse than bad soap opera.. I just don't see it at all.

Posted by DavidF Author Profile Page at July 1, 2008 8:43 PM

comment #9

BurmaShave Author Profile Page says ...

Only works if Ellen Burstyn's Barbara Bush as unhinged as Sarah Goldfarb. Also Griff that's really funny.

Posted by BurmaShave Author Profile Page at July 1, 2008 8:45 PM

comment #10

Marcello Author Profile Page says ...

It's brilliant! Brilliant I say!

I am referring, of course, to The Hope Of Audacity.

Posted by Marcello Author Profile Page at July 1, 2008 9:05 PM

comment #11

aspiringcrackaddict Author Profile Page says ...

I only have one thing to say

"Yeah sometimes I use the INTERNETS. I sometimes use it to surf the GOOGLES"

I'm sorry guys but to me, the script reads like fucking SHAKESPEARE considering the way the idiot actually speaks.

"I'M THE DECIDER"

Posted by aspiringcrackaddict Author Profile Page at July 1, 2008 10:53 PM

comment #12

MickTravis Author Profile Page says ...

Am I completely misinformed or is George W. not Bush Jr.

His father is George Herbert Walker Bush.

There's no Herbert in W's name so I always thought it was inaccurate to call him "Jr."

Posted by MickTravis Author Profile Page at July 2, 2008 8:26 AM

comment #13

Dave Polands Gut Author Profile Page says ...

A movie that will make as much as Nixon, Alexander, Heaven And Earth, and U Turn. A bomb in the making.

Posted by Dave Polands Gut Author Profile Page at July 2, 2008 8:28 AM

comment #14

Joel Author Profile Page says ...

This movie is going to be awful.

Posted by Joel Author Profile Page at July 2, 2008 9:27 AM

comment #15

Spacesheik Author Profile Page says ...

I like the way this movie is panning out...It looks like a semi-tragedy with a sardonic edge.

Throw in some Oliver Stone creative quick cuts, with some grainy flashback footage, a rousing John Williams score, and I'm sold.

I thought NIXON was one of the bst films of the 90s. I found that movie oddly moving, great performances all around as well. Awesome film. I even have the longer Directors version with Sam Waterston in it.

Posted by Spacesheik Author Profile Page at July 2, 2008 11:00 AM

comment #16

T. S. Idiot Author Profile Page says ...

Dropping the Herbert doesn't stop him from being Jr. He's a daddy's boy if there ever was one.

Posted by T. S. Idiot Author Profile Page at July 2, 2008 11:58 AM

comment #17

Markku Author Profile Page says ...

Had Sam Waterston been included in the theatrical cut of Nixon, I believe he might well have been nominated for an Oscar. He's in the film for ten minutes, but it's a truly spectacular scene.

W. as a script (at least in the draft I've read) is not quite as impressive as Nixon: the single most memorable character is Dubya himself and there are only a few moments of pathos and high drama. That said, I don't think the script is as bad as it had been made out to be: the most outrageous scenes are pretty much the ones we know really happened.

Posted by Markku Author Profile Page at July 2, 2008 2:45 PM

comment #18

Valerie Cherish Author Profile Page says ...

Why has AUNT SASSY been BANNED???

I miss her insightful comments on film, and her bitchy commentary. She added a refreshing viewpoint to this site.

FREE AUNT SASSY!!!

Posted by Valerie Cherish Author Profile Page at July 2, 2008 4:47 PM

comment #19

janee Author Profile Page says ...

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Posted by janee Author Profile Page at May 17, 2011 4:37 AM

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