Not all political movies "go down the tank," (i.e. are not successful).

Director and ex-Vietnam Vet combat officer Oliver Stone has made some extraordinary powerful (and entertaining) movies: Platoon, JFK Nixon, Born on the Fourth of July all were box office successes, and with many Oscar nominations and a few Oscar wins.

His 'body of work," will be around for a long time and considered by many generations. (Alexander the Great, on the other hand, sure wasn't a success).

So it goes. But Stone has a good batting average with more hits than losers and, as noted, he's done well enough where he can just pay cash out of his own pocket to make his own movies: He doesn't need Hollywood.

Republ...

Not all political movies "go down the tank," (i.e. are not successful).

Director and ex-Vietnam Vet combat officer Oliver Stone has made some extraordinary powerful (and entertaining) movies: Platoon, JFK Nixon, Born on the Fourth of July all were box office successes, and with many Oscar nominations and a few Oscar wins.

His 'body of work," will be around for a long time and considered by many generations. (Alexander the Great, on the other hand, sure wasn't a success).

So it goes. But Stone has a good batting average with more hits than losers and, as noted, he's done well enough where he can just pay cash out of his own pocket to make his own movies: He doesn't need Hollywood.

Republicans are the ones who normally put out slanted movies and books a few weeks or months before elections.

So I find it nice see someone with more common sense and accurate vision do the same.

More about "W"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1175491/

@anatolant: Good questions. Maybe someday Oliver Stone will make some of the movies you suggest (About Wall St.,The elections of 2008, the nature of America today, and the rise of the anti-hero)

I wouldn't know how to discuss his movies from an artistic point of view; they all seem to have a strong and powerful social message which sometimes is very shocking (at least, at that time).

In Platoon, for example, not only is there Americans killing innocent civilians but one American soldier out to kill another (and sets him up to be left for dead).

The death of that soldier, at the end of that movie, was not just the death of one man but the death of the false USA propaganda that we are alway...

@anatolant: Good questions. Maybe someday Oliver Stone will make some of the movies you suggest (About Wall St.,The elections of 2008, the nature of America today, and the rise of the anti-hero)

I wouldn't know how to discuss his movies from an artistic point of view; they all seem to have a strong and powerful social message which sometimes is very shocking (at least, at that time).

In Platoon, for example, not only is there Americans killing innocent civilians but one American soldier out to kill another (and sets him up to be left for dead).

The death of that soldier, at the end of that movie, was not just the death of one man but the death of the false USA propaganda that we are always the "good guys," doing the right thing.

'Born on the Fourth of July,' was another shocking idea (at that time)-- a paralyzed Vietnam Vet soldier becoming an anti-war activist .

Does it challenge 20-year olds? Maybe Stone's shocking movie, "Natural Born Killers," might be more challenging because it is not stuck in an historical moment which younger people don't grasp.

?

His world is like a lit stick of dynamite

Some political movies about elections are below.

The Best Man' 1964 scandal driven political maneuverings behind the nomination of a presidential candidate, characters based on Harry Truman -- Adlai Stevenson - Richard Nixon)

‘The Candidate’ 1972 how the political machine corrupts, and the charade image making of politics.

Sentimental - ‘The Last Hurrah’ 1958

‘All the King’s Men’ - 1946 about the most amazing, most radical politician most Americans never heard about.

‘Wag the Dog,’
A spin-doctor and a Hollywood producer join efforts to fabricate a war

‘The War Room’ 1994 Documentary of the Clinto campaign

‘Primary Colors’ - 1998 - silver tongue talker Clinton-like character

‘Bulworth’ > black humor & impending death leads to blunt talk

Last but not least, 1939 - ‘Mr. Smith goes to Washington,’ - totally idealistic old movie we'd like to believe in.

Freedom of speech is meaningful only if there is freedom of mind. I see not much "Oliver Stone" in "W." (less than in "Platoon," for example). I, Stone, you, and others who read this post, are bound by the time we all live in -- and I want to see in this magic mirror more, then I see on TV screen. I want my children and grandchild to see the time before them to understand where their problems come from. Should I also mention the rest of the world who is watching America, which is center stage of history right now.
"What does the rest matter?" Art? Animals live without it -- are they happy? How would we know? They do not write poetry.
I judge Stone by the standards he establish for himself. ...

Freedom of speech is meaningful only if there is freedom of mind. I see not much "Oliver Stone" in "W." (less than in "Platoon," for example). I, Stone, you, and others who read this post, are bound by the time we all live in -- and I want to see in this magic mirror more, then I see on TV screen. I want my children and grandchild to see the time before them to understand where their problems come from. Should I also mention the rest of the world who is watching America, which is center stage of history right now.
"What does the rest matter?" Art? Animals live without it -- are they happy? How would we know? They do not write poetry.
I judge Stone by the standards he establish for himself. The last shot where is no ball to catch that is the story I wish I could see. The story of a man, who became and was US president for ... nothing?
I wish that "W." won't end with rating and Bush leaving The White House in Jan., but could be the ground for a discussion on what our eight years of the new millennium were about.
After watching "Citizen Kane" I said that I wish I could see "Citizen McCain" -- only art can discover, and not to "cover" -- the soul, heart and mind.
Am I only one who is tired of empty endless talks about the candidates? "Who is Barack Obama?"
After eight years we still cannot say that we know "Who is George W. Bush"... Should we try art mode, maybe, if we still interested in ourselves.

@ Anatonant. I think your questions and ideas are great. & maybe they will inspire some people to make even better movies.

I think a movie about "Citizen McKane," for example,would be brilliant.

(If you haven't seen this campaign ad that was used against Hilary Clinton, you might like it, at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h3G-lMZxjo

It has the 'Big Brother, Citizen Kane,' similar image of a big face on the screen preaching politics.)

What movies people like, though, are quite subjective. We'll never have everybody agree on what is "the best." Is it going to be a tragedy? Is it going to be a comedy? Will it be about love? Or will it be about war?

Or some of all of the above?

I don't...

@ Anatonant. I think your questions and ideas are great. & maybe they will inspire some people to make even better movies.

I think a movie about "Citizen McKane," for example,would be brilliant.

(If you haven't seen this campaign ad that was used against Hilary Clinton, you might like it, at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h3G-lMZxjo

It has the 'Big Brother, Citizen Kane,' similar image of a big face on the screen preaching politics.)

What movies people like, though, are quite subjective. We'll never have everybody agree on what is "the best." Is it going to be a tragedy? Is it going to be a comedy? Will it be about love? Or will it be about war?

Or some of all of the above?

I don't think Oliver Stone wants to make 'the greatest movie of all time." -- He wants to make action films that say something or raise questions. IMO.

People have mentioned that "W" is a strange movie, in a way, because the subject is still alive, the subject is still in office, that, in fact, the story of "W" has yet to reach it's end.

Some ask if it was done and released now to try to influence the elections?

I don't know. But keep up your quest and questions.

@brightlight4 I think you are very wrong not to realize the disgust and anger at the Bush Administration is based on issues of the War in Iraq, WALL STREET SOCIALISM, violation of the Geneva Accords in our treatment of prisons, the failure to the Administration to follow our own laws and Constitution, the growing spying and violation of civil rights, etc.

Do you actually think people have 'forgotten,' or fail to consider these things?

Oh well....perhaps you are mislead by the politic of fear and hate, the smear campaigns of the Republicans who can not defend their handling of the issues and thus have to focus on personalities and attempts to smear and destroy character.

Of course, this is common in all politics.

@brightlight4 - very good questions.

I have thought about this too and I've come up with one idea that I mention often and strikes me a true: Most other democracies in the world (if not ALL of them) are parliamentary system; America is not.

Because the USA is not a parliament, this is the reason, IMO why:

1. There are no other options apart from the Republicans and the Democrats.
2. Other candidates from third parties will almost certainly never get elected in a national election, and certainly never become president.
3. Left-wing ideas are also thus more stifled because they will never be heard in a 'winner-take-all' mode of elections.

But not everyone agrees on this; people in power do...

@brightlight4 - very good questions.

I have thought about this too and I've come up with one idea that I mention often and strikes me a true: Most other democracies in the world (if not ALL of them) are parliamentary system; America is not.

Because the USA is not a parliament, this is the reason, IMO why:

1. There are no other options apart from the Republicans and the Democrats.
2. Other candidates from third parties will almost certainly never get elected in a national election, and certainly never become president.
3. Left-wing ideas are also thus more stifled because they will never be heard in a 'winner-take-all' mode of elections.

But not everyone agrees on this; people in power don’t want to give up power; it’s difficult to make change; lots of people just go along with the status quo or just don’t care all that much.

"The lack of independence in the media at election time," due to the fact that the media is owned most often by SuperRich and that the media is dependent upon Corporations for advertising cash.

(But now there is the Internet and this new media is not controlled or restricted by anyone, so that’s an improvement.)

Re: How people decide what party to vote for? -- Gosh....that's a tough question. How do they decide where you come from? Maybe it similar.

Re: The U.S.- a Republic?..well, give yourself a gold start for knowing that; I suspect many Americans don't even realize this.

A country can become any form of government it wants, why not? But all the wars in the world’s history show that this can be a great battle. Not everybody agrees. Not everybody has good intentions.

Why little left-wing? Many people prefer comfort and tradition rather than challenge or change.

The great interest by minority groups and new young voters, though, is the type of energy and enthusiasm that seeks challenge and change, reforms and new ideas; so this is good.
I’ll add that there is much more to politics than just writing words on paper or having dreams.

Well, you know, we brainwashed Obamarites have secret orders not to talk about the Black Muslim plot to take over America until after the elections.

But, I can assure you that it's not that bad, just a little Motown music at State functions, repainting the White House, Afro-Americans appointed to all Cabinet positions and positions of power.

The left wing commie agenda then will first start by not only continuing the take over of the banks but also the oil companies. taxes on the rich will be raised to 90% , anyone who makes less than a hundred thousand dollars will be guaranteed free food, free health care and free housing.

The army will have to be dismantled, of course and put to work o...

Well, you know, we brainwashed Obamarites have secret orders not to talk about the Black Muslim plot to take over America until after the elections.

But, I can assure you that it's not that bad, just a little Motown music at State functions, repainting the White House, Afro-Americans appointed to all Cabinet positions and positions of power.

The left wing commie agenda then will first start by not only continuing the take over of the banks but also the oil companies. taxes on the rich will be raised to 90% , anyone who makes less than a hundred thousand dollars will be guaranteed free food, free health care and free housing.

The army will have to be dismantled, of course and put to work on public work projects (building all that free housing).

All blacks will be released from prison immediately and whites who haven't committed murder will also be let out and given a living salary for two years.

All drugs will be made legal (but this won't be so bad because they will be taxed and probably bring in enough case for the free health care program).

Any family that has roots that can be traced back to slaveholders will have to pay retribution.

And Black History month will be extended through March. This might be the hardest thing to take but it's either than or going to the re-education camps.