Brolin embodies his role completely, allowing the audience to forget there’s an actor toiling to perfect every mannerism and speech inflection. From body language to the signature “heh-heh” snicker, Brolin simply is George W. Bush.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Mar 20, 2024

The director possesses a lively vulgarity, which he applies to glaringly public and intimate moments alike. Occasionally, this is effective and attractive; here, more often than not, however, it is not.

| Feb 13, 2021

Overtly mocking satire is rare in the film and it's a shame that Stone has reined in the crazy, flamboyant side we know from such films as Natural Born Killers and JFK.

| Nov 14, 2020

A career best performance from Josh Brolin.

| Original Score: 2.5/4.0 | Sep 26, 2020

Ultimately this portrayal of Bush as a bumbling buffoon is lacking any real satirical teeth, particularly as it's all played out like a straightforward biopic.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 4, 2019

The film lacks the sizzle of its subject -- Stone delivers a rather bland, middle-of-the-road bio pic.

| Original Score: C | Oct 15, 2019

may not be the powerful, probing character study it could have been, but it's definitely a film worthy of more consideration than it has been given

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jun 5, 2019

If you decide to go see W., just be warned that, once again, Oliver Stone thinks he has some sort of profound insight to share with you.

| Oct 30, 2018

The trouble, basically, is that this film just doesn't know what it is about. Is it about dynasty? Imperialism? Ambition? The dark side of democracy? What? And, consequently, you are just not made to care about any of it.

| Feb 1, 2018

Like Bush's presidency, it seems lost: it lacks direction. W. could very well stand for why?

| Dec 27, 2017

Director Oliver Stone may be off his nut, but you have to give him credit for what he brings to the big screen.

| Aug 22, 2017

Not only does W. fail as both drama and comedy, it's unclear which sequences are meant to be which.

| Jun 14, 2016

Neither a smear campaign nor propaganda piece, but rather a fascinating look at one of the more controversial presidents in recent memory that may end up changing your perspective on the Bush you only thought you knew.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Nov 6, 2012

| Original Score: B- | Feb 18, 2012

No matter which way your political stripes run, W. won't likely rub them the wrong way.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 28, 2011

Brolin outdoes himself in the title role.

| Aug 16, 2011

| Original Score: C+ | May 6, 2011

| Original Score: 2/5 | Apr 4, 2011

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Sep 25, 2010

Stone's film is like an affectionate kick in the groin of a good old boy you'd like to have a beer with, or with W today, a near Beer.

| Original Score: 4/10 | Jan 25, 2010