Nov 19 2008
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Nov 19 2008
Dir: Oliver Stone
Writ: Stanley Weiser
This is an odd sort of a film. I mean, it clearly isn’t meant to be full of praise for George W. Bush. But at the same time it is almost gentle in its treatment of him. Presenting him as a somewhat simple-minded, but well-intentioned, fool. With Daddy Issues.
The film cuts back and forward in time. From W. as a drunk, to W. as president. It looks at his relationship with his father. With that decision not to go after Saddam in the first Gulf War and W.’s insistence that America do so in the second. And every so often inter-cutting W. and his love of baseball.
I enjoyed it. I suppose. But it really isn’t anything special. The acting is all fine and well, but it lacks any real sort of insight. If you are going to have a character-study, even a humourous one, then you really need to study the main character. Instead we seem to get a collection of scenes from George W. Bush’s life. Maybe we’re supposed to provide the analysis ourselves, I dunno, it just didn’t really work for me.
One to save for the dvd release I think.
Tags: 6 Stars, bio, biopic, comedy, Elizabeth Banks, Ellen Burstyn, George W. Bush, Ioan Gruffudd, James Cromwell, Josh Brolin, Oliver Stone, Richard Dreyfuss, Stanley Weiser, W.Jan 26 2005
Or so some saying goes.
The Irish Times(sub req.d) has a story that George W. Bush is related/descended from Strongbow, and therefore from his wife Aoife and so of Dermot McMorrough. McMorrough, High King Of Leinster is
“reviled in many Irish history books as the man who betrayed his island for personal gain.”
For all who don’t know McMorrough invited Strongbow (Richard de la Clare) into Ireland and thus started the Norman invasion in 1169. And thus began the “700 yrs of occupation” rubbish that is still whined about.
So two of the most infamous men in Ireland’s history are ancestors of Mr. Bush… But then again I don’t put much store in what your forefathers did. It is all about your actions isn’t it?
Tags: 1169, George W. Bush, irish history, meh, Richard de la Clare, Strongbow, The Irish TimesJul 10 2004
So how is everyone? I know, been very bad about updating and even being online lately. Ah well, what can I say apart from I’m just lazy. I could make stupid excuses about moving, and job-hunting but I won’t because they’d just be silly excuses. The real reason I haven’t updated is because my life is kinda on the boring side, and I don’t even do so much surfing so no new and interesting sites to mention.
But in the month or so since I’ve been online regularly there have been a few things I wanted to comment on; first of all I’ll just plug Firefly again. If you haven’t seen it go try and catch an episode or two.
Right, down to business:
Now those who’ve read this blog over the past however long its been up and running will know that I am not George W. Bush’s biggest fan. Neither do I think that his influence on America has been a positive one, but I think that the way the media has started to be automatically anti-americanish has gone too far. My reason; well recently Today fm had a competition to send people to the states in celebration of the 4th of July. But part of the competition involved poking fun at Bush. Now is it just me or it that just plain ridiculous. Why on earth would poking fun at the president of a country be seen as a celebration of that country?
Well is was a surprise wasn’t it? But I wanted Portugal to win. Still nice to see a total surprise like Greece coming out on top. Oh, and by the way all you England supporters, I have to agree with the ref. Wasn’t a goal. After all Terry’s hand was on the goalie, if it had been the other waty around you all would have agreed that the goal wasn’t one. Still to go out on penalties is never a good thing.
Overall think this years Euro championship was really entertaining, good football and despite the lack of big names it kept me interested all the way through. But have to ask; that Pauoletta fella who plays for Portugal- anyone know if he has ever managed to get the ball on target before. He was atrocious.
Well just the one actually. We got a new cat at home, a teeny little thing who has absolutely no brains whatsoever as she keeps attacking the dog. I mean, she could fit in his mouth twice over. Despite that she scrapes and bites his mouth with only our “No’s” keeping him from snapping his jaws shut around her. Not that he wants to hurt her, think he enjoys playing with her, it’s just that he is so much bigger than she is. Ah well, I suppose she’ll grow up and hopefully get a bit of sense eventually. Either that or end up as the dog’s dinner.
Hmmm, any other business?
Nope, think thats it for now. I hope to be online more often now that I’m kinda sorted. Til the end of the month anyway when I have two interviews. Hopefully one will lead to a job. COurse that will also lead to another move as, more than likely, I’ll be heading back to Dublin. But sure I’ll make those excuses later on 
