The Bush administration is now in a theater near you.

The Oliver Stone-directed film spans the life of George W. Bush (Josh Brolin) from his years in the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity at Yale to his presidency. The movie, while seemingly devoid of a plot, attempts to get inside Dubya’s head. It takes the events of his youth and adolescence and uses them to try and explain his actions today.

Since everyone knows the ending to this story, the movie is about how this man became the 43rd
president. It’s never clarified, however, whether the film is telling the viewer to crucify him or sympathize with him. He’s shown as a likable doofus, partying harder than he should. As he gets older, Bush Sr. (James Cromwell) appears as the clear antagonist, jabbing Bushie every chance he gets.

“Who do you think you are? A Kennedy? You’re a Bush. Act like one,” he says, outlining young Bush’s journey through the entire movie to become the beloved son.

In a more confusing scene, Bush is determined to “get his miles in” after a heavy night of drinking. On his run, the picture blurs, and swirls with white light. Bush collapses, and the next scene depicts him attending a Bible study group.

Whether this was the point at which Bush found God, or he was having a more serious health problem, the purpose is unclear. In many scenes like this, Stone’s reasoning fails to come through. The filmmaking is convoluted, and the viewer isn’t sure whether to laugh at the satire, or be solemn for the dramatic effect.

The casting in “W” was superb. Josh Brolin’s performance as the president was fantastic. After losing oneself in the movie, the viewer forgets Brolin is just an actor, and rather sees the physicality and mannerisms of George W. Bush. Richard Dreyfuss as Dick Cheney was a smart choice in terms of looks, but perhaps wasn’t given the screen time needed to fully flesh out the V.P. Thandie Newton as Condoleezza Rice was, at best, comical. As an imitator, Newton was great, but as an actress, working to become the person, her performance was a joke.

The movie presents the 43rd president as a confused young man trying in vain to impress his dad. This may, indeed, be how history will treat Bush Jr., but Stone’s perspective was never quite clear. There’s no point of view.

The viewer, leaving the theater, is left stranded to find the meaning on their own.

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