W. Trailer

The first trailer for Oliver Stone's new movie has been released:

W Movie Poster: Pic of the Day 6/30

Above, an early teaser for Oliver Stone's W- a biopic of our Commander-in-Chief. It's complete with some of the hilarious (or, pathetic) Bushisms that defined the "Improbable President."

In case you can't see them, here are a few of my favorites:

- I'm honored to shake the hand of the brave Iraqi citizen who had his hand cut-off by the brutal Sadaam Hussein.

- I can press when there needs to be pressed; I can hold hands when there needs to be... hold hands.

- And so, General, I want to thank you for your service. And I appreciate the fact that you really snatched defeat out of the jaws of those who would defeat us in Iraq.

- There's been a lot of rumors on the Internets that we're going to have a draft.

And, of course...

W

Oliver Stone's W has started production. Stone's producers hope to have the movie out by October, at the height of the presidential race. Entertainment Weekly has an extensive article on the movie.

The director actually went to Yale with President Bush back in the 60s, before he dropped out to serve in Vietnam (Stone did, not Bush). Although, he says they never crossed paths. ''If I met him there, I don't remember. But I do remember John Kerry. He was big man on campus, head of the Political Union. I definitely remember him."

Stone insists he will be fair to the man in his portrait.

"Bush may turn out to be the worst president in history... But that doesn't mean he isn't a great story. It's almost Capra-esque, the story of a guy who had very limited talents in life, except for the ability to sell himself. The fact that he had to overcome the shadow of his father and the weight of his family name — you have to admire his tenacity. There's almost an Andy Griffith quality to him, from A Face in the Crowd. If Fitzgerald were alive today, he might be writing about him. He's sort of a reverse Gatsby."

First Lady gets the Hollywood Treatment

An update on the ongoing story of Oliver Stone's Bush bio-pic "W."-- as we noted in January, Stone cast Josh Brolin in the title role.

Now, he appears to have zeroed in on his Laura-- 40 Year Old Virgin hott Elizabeth Banks.

Come on, who's playing Karl Rove, Matthew McConaughey?

I'd have gone with someone like Laura Linney (who is currently playing another first lady), but I do really like Brolin as W. If this movie is even in the same ballpark as Nixon I'll be happy (and I'm confident it will be).

My Top 10 Political Movies

**Disclaimer** I haven't seen many of the most acclaimed political movies such as: Bulworth, The Candidate, Doctor Strangelove, Election, and (the original) Manchurian Candidate

Here is a list of my 10 favorite movies about American politics. This isn't a list of the best movies (so 1949's All the King's Men is left off), but the ones I enjoy the most:

10. Dave (1993)- One of the great fantasy movies ever. A regular guy winds up president. It makes you wonder what you'd do in the Oval Office, and lament that the country has to be run by those hardened enough to make it to the top.

9. Citizen Kane (1941)- It drags on a bit, but over 65 years after its release, Citizen Kane still holds up as relevant and chilling. Maybe that's why AFI ranks it as the greatest movie ever made.

8. Charlie Wilson's War (2007)- Takes (more than) a few liberties with the true story of America's proxy war in Afghanistan, which was the crossroads of modern- American history. In one dramatic turn we exchanged Red Soviets for Radical Islamic fundamentalists. Great writing (Sorkin) and acting (Hanks, Hoffman).

7. JFK (1991)- Makes Charlie Wilson's War look like a documentary, but Oliver Stone provides a riveting account of what many don't realize is a true story- Jim Garrison's prosecution of Clay Shaw for the murder of John Kennedy in 1967. The trial may have been bunk, but the movie is excellent, especially the scene with Donald Sutherland around the Reflecting Pool.

6. Wag the Dog (1997)- The meeting of Hollywood and DC, this satire was a poignant comment on the state of American democracy, media, and culture.

5. All the President's Men (1976)- Chilling performances that brought home Watergate. It's scary 'cause it's true.

4. 13 Days (2000)- For a guy who's been in a lot of terrible movies, Kevin Costner has been in a lot of great movies. The film taught a new generation about the earth- rattling days of the Cuban missile crisis. The taut pace earns this un- romanticized portrayal high marks.

3. Nixon (1995)- A stunning portrait of one of the most tragic American figures, whose greatest strengths led to his shocking fall. Stone chronicles the painful trip from a depressed California farm, to the White House, to disgrace, and does justice to a man who had the faculties and opportunity for greatness, but failed to overcome himself.

2. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)- The classic American film of idealism, cynicism and redemption. A lot like Dave, only a lot better.

1. Primary Colors (1998)- The movie has everything: drama, laughs, and surprises. It's the quintessential tale of American politics because it runs the gamut and doesn't oversimplify- it covers the excitement and tedium of campaigns, and its characters appeal to our ideals, but shock us with their flaws. It's also endless fun to figure out on whom each character is based, in this satire of Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign.

Unfortunately, "There Will Be Blood" is Already Taken

As posted earlier, Oliver Stone is planning a movie about George W. Bush, tentatively entitled Bush. Catchy, but here are some SAM Online suggestions:

The Good the Bad and the Dummy

When Harry met Condi

Oval Office Space

Lie Another Day

My Fair Cheney

Jerry W. Maguire

Raging Bullsh*t

Superbad

MI 4: Mission Accomplished

The Un-credibles

Titanic... failure

Bush to get "Stoned"

As noted on the Drudge Report, Oliver Stone is planning a movie on the life of the current President Bush. Although he's known for his left minded politics, Stone's Nixon (one of my favorite movies) was quite sympathetic.

Stone notes:

"... I want a fair, true portrait of the man. How did Bush go from an alcoholic bum to the most powerful figure in the world? It's like Frank Capra territory on one hand, but I'll also cover the demons in his private life, his bouts with his dad and his conversion to Christianity, which explains a lot of where he is coming from. It includes his belief that God personally chose him to be president of the United States, and his coming into his own with the stunning, preemptive attack on Iraq. It will contain surprises for Bush supporters and his detractors."

And who will don the cowboy boots and power ties? Josh Brolin is reportedly attached.