While reviews of the new feature film "W." have remained mixed, many Utahns have already formed their opinions about the Oliver Stone movie.
Moviegoers at the Century 16 theaters, 175 E. 3300 South, were varied in their interpretations of "W." Dahna Chaitanya, of Murray, saw the film Friday and shared her insights with the Deseret News.
Chaitanya said she wanted to see how Stone would treat the subject and the angle he would take. She expected the film to be highly critical of the president and his policies, yet she said the satire and laughs she expected weren't there. Instead, Chaitanya said she was felt compassion for Bush after the film showed her he was just another human.
"It felt like an uncomfortable biography," Chaitanya said. "It was uncomfortable in that the movie showed us a side of our leader we don't want to see."
Jane Nelson, the assistant director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah, hasn't seen "W." yet. But after seeing the trailers, she said it appears to be a "Bush bashing film." Nelson said if the film is critical of Bush and his policies, then the timing is no coincidence — people have begun to associate presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain's platform with Bush.
Yet, Nelson expected the impact of the film to be minimal on informed voters.
"It seems like after debates or things like 'W.' people don't change their mind very much," Nelson said.
Instead of changing the heart and mind of voters, Nelson expects the film to sink the wedge deeper between Democrats and Republicans in light of Hollywood's liberal tendencies.
Dale Anderson, of Murray, was at the theater Friday to see the film "Ghost Town." He and his wife Mary aren't planning to see "W." but based on what Anderson thinks, it's a political ploy.
"Oliver Stone blew it with this one," Anderson said. "He's trying to interfere and influence the election."
E-mail: cnorlen@desnews.com