W.

Year:

2008

Duration:

129 min

Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

IMDB rate:

6.4

Director:

Oliver Stone

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Details

Country: USA

Release Date: 2008-10-17

Filming Locations: Millennium Studios- 300 Douglas Street, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA

Earnings

Budget: $25,100,000

Opening Weekend: $10,505,668 (USA) (19 October 2008)

Gross: $25,534,493 (USA) (4 December 2008)

Cast

Actor

Character

Elizabeth Banks

W.

Juan Gabriel Pareja

Josh Brolin

George W. Bush

Colin Hanks

Speechwriter #1

Toby Jones

Karl Rove

Dennis Boutsikaris

Paul Wolfowitz

Jeffrey Wright

Colin Powell

Thandie Newton

Condoleezza Rice

Scott Glenn

Donald Rumsfeld

Richard Dreyfuss

Dick Cheney

Bruce McGill

George Tenet

Wes Chatham

Fraternity Enforcer

Jesse Bradford

Fraternity President

Sean Stone

Fraternity Pledge #1

Ben Mayer

Fraternity Pledge #2

James Cromwell

George H.W. Bush

Shea Lewis

Oil Rig Driller

Randal Reeder

Oil Rig Foreman

Marley Shelton

Fran

Litt Martin

1971 Houston Oilman #1

James Ron Parker

1971 Houston Oilman #2

Michael Gaston

General Tommy Franks

Keenan Harrison Brand

Marvin Bush

Ellen Burstyn

Barbara Bush

Jason Ritter

Jeb Bush

Bryan Massey

Skeeter

Noah Wyle

Don Evans

Bill Jenkins

Jim Sale

Brent Sexton

Joe O'Neill

Jonathan Breck

Corn Dog

Jenny Shakeshaft

Suzie Evans

Jonna Juul-Hansen

Jan O'Neill

Paul Rae

Kent Hance

David Born

Texas Debate Moderator

John Buffalo Mailer

Speechwriter #2

James Martin Kelly

NSC Official

Rob Corddry

Ari Fleischer

William Lanier

Resort Waiter

Stacy Keach

Rev. Earle Hudd

Gregory Alan Williams

Evangelical Minister (as Gregory Alan-Williams)

Jon Michael Davis

1988 Campaign Aide #1 (as Jon Davis)

Andrew Sensenig

Texas Reporter #1

Gabriela Ostos

Texas Reporter #2

Lisa Fairchild

Texas Reporter #3

Paul T. Taylor

Texas Reporter #4

Halley Rachal

Park Bench Voter #1 (as Halley Rachel)

Dottie McWhiney

Park Bench Voter #2

Ronan Summers

CIA Official

John Neisler

Cheney's Lawyer

Ioan Gruffudd

Prime Minister Tony Blair

Charles Fathy

Pres. Jacques Chirac

Jim Garrity

TV Commentator #1 (as James A. Garrity)

Anne Pressly

TV Commentator #2

Randall Newsome

Paul Bremer

Jewel Williams

Legless Soldier

Oscar Contreras

Burned Soldier

Tom Kemp

David Kay

Teresa Cheung

Miss China

Brad Sham

White House Reporter

Michael C. 'Mike' Allen

Presidential Aid - Gulf War Sit. Room (uncredited)

Kristin Barnhart

Oil Tycoon Wife (uncredited)

Amanda Bosley

Birthday Party Guest (uncredited)

McIntyre Bridges

Secret Service Agent (uncredited)

Dane Brown

Press (uncredited)

Bruce Bryant

Odessa Debate Patron (uncredited)

Patrick Michael Carney

Navy Seal #1 (uncredited)

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Herself (archive footage) (uncredited)

Trent Dee

Married Couple (uncredited)

Lacey Ford

Car Passenger (uncredited)

Chris Freihofer

Evangelical 2

Terry Boyd Gamble

Rove Aide (uncredited)

Mike Gassaway

Scooter Libby

Jude Gavi

Reporter (uncredited)

Jeff Gibbs

Josiah Pringle (uncredited)

Mark A. Hernandez

Migrant Worker (uncredited)

Saddam Hussein

Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)

Don Kress

Navy Official (uncredited)

Jimmy Lee Jr.

Oil Rig Worker (uncredited)

Madison Mason

Adm. Kelly (uncredited)

John McCain

Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)

Lee Ann McDade

White House Reporter

John Gibson Miller

Well Wisher (uncredited)

Richard Myers

Himself - General, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (archive footage) (uncredited)

Ashley-Anne Parker

Pedestrian

Matthew Ramsaur

Pedestrian

Sean M. Sellers

Waiter (uncredited)

Matt Sigloch

Lieutenant General Shriver

James W. Spradling II

Odessa Debate Patron (uncredited)

Bill Stinchcomb

Secret Service Agent (uncredited)

Taylor Treadwell

Anchor #2 (uncredited)

Jonathan Tripp

News Boom Operator (uncredited)

Chuck Vail

Jerimiah Adams

W. Douglas Waterfield

Assistant Secretary of State (uncredited)

Drew Waters

Navy SEAL (uncredited)

Brent Weisner

Secret Service Agent (uncredited)

Tucker Wells

Press Room Reporter (uncredited)

Steven E. Williams

Motorist / Background Driver (uncredited)

Rodney Wiseman

Oil Man at Party (uncredited)

Johnny Wright

Odessa Debate Patron (uncredited)

Scott Yarnell

News Photographer (uncredited)

Did you know?

Trivia

Christian Bale was initially cast as George W. Bush, and even underwent weeks of prosthetics tests before filming began. However, he withdrew from the production at the last minute, prompting Oliver Stone to immediately look for a replacement. Josh Brolin was subsequently given the role following his notable performances in No Country for Old Men (2007) and American Gangster (2007).

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Most of the film was shot in practical locations in Shreveport, Louisiana. George and Laura Bush's bedroom and George Tenet's bedroom are different rooms in the same mansion.

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According to James Cromwell (who plays George Bush Sr.), Oliver Stone originally offered the role to Warren Beatty and Harrison Ford. Interestingly, all three actors are known for their support of liberal political causes.

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Goofs

In the scene with the speech writers in June 2003, prior to going to war with Iraq, the PC in the background shows a Windows Vista desktop. Vista was released in January 2007.

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In boardroom meeting regarding Iraq, set in 2002, Aquafina bottles on the table have a design from 2005.

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When W. is watching a College World Series baseball game, the commentator announces the Longhorns going up 2-1. The video shows the University of Miami (FL) Hurricanes scoring a run.

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Quotes

George W. Bush: Who's ever remembered the son of a president?

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Barbara Bush: [about W. running for Governor of Texas] The fact is you can't win.

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George W. Bush: Now I don't believe in forcing myself on people, so I'm just gonna ask for your phone number, not your vote.

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Faq

Q

Besides George W., who else from his life features in this movie?

A

President Bush (Josh Brolin)'s wife Laura (Elizabeth Banks), brother Jeb (Jason Ritter), father and former President George Herbert Walker Bush (James Cromwell), and mother Barbara (Ellen Burstyn) are also featured. Daughters Jenna and Barbara are not in the cast list. Prominent members of President Bush's administrative cabinet include vice-president Dick Cheney (Richard Dreyfuss), Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (Thandie Newton), former Secretary of State General Colin Powell (Jeffrey Wright), and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (Scott Glenn). Featured international leaders include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair (Ioan Gruffudd) and former President of Iraq Saddam Hussein (Sayed Badreya).

Q

Is "W." based on a book?

A

No. W. is based on a script originally researched and written by director Oliver Stone and screenwriter Stanley Weiser prior to the 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike.

Q

Who or what is "W"?

A

Originally titled Bush, W. is Oliver Stone's biopic about the life and presidency of the 43rd US president George W. Bush. The "W" stands for his middle name "Walker."

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