Even though President George W. Bush has less than a month left in the Oval Office, a new film will leave the current head of state in the minds of many.
Hollywood producer Oliver Stone is the director of W., released nationally today. The film, starring Josh Brolin as President Bush, follows the commander in chief from his fraternity days at Harvard through the invasion of Iraq.
Stone has made biopic films about other United States presidents including JFK (released in 1991) and Nixon (released in 1995), but the films were released after the former leaders had concluded their terms in office.
Oliver Stone said in an interview with The New York Times he intentionally released the film around the 2008 presidential election.
One Penn State professor, though, doesn't think it will have much influence on the upcoming election.
"I look at the Michael Moore films that were supposed to have a huge impact, and none of them did," said C. Michael Elavsky, an assistant professor in the College of Communications. "I'd be surprised if it even does well because I feel like people are fed up with politics right now."
While some may view the film as a realistic look inside the man that has run the United States for almost a decade, others see it more as a caricature.
"I plan on seeing the movie just for fun," said Alex Smith, president of Penn State College Republicans. "It seems pretty fictional. I can't see it being taken very seriously."
Other political figures portrayed in the film include Condoleezza Rice, played by Thandie Newton, and Richard Dreyfuss starring as Vice President Dick Cheney.
Cheney's character in W. has been called a "villain" in many reviews by patrons on imdb.com who have seen advanced screenings.
"I wouldn't consider the man my favorite person, but he's definitely not a villain," Smith said.
With the film's release today, the public can decide whether or not it believes it's a legitimate portrayal of the president or if it is stretching the truth.
Sean Meloy, president of Penn State College Democrats, said he plans on seeing the film for comedic relief.
"I don't like the man, but it looked kind of funny," he said.
