Director Oliver Stone talks about why he made "W."

Director Oliver Stone spoke to a star-studded audience last night at a special screening of "W.," his controversial and much-anticipated biopic of President George W. Bush.   

Before the screening in West Los Angeles, Stone spoke to the glitterati about the journalistic sources for the film's story and why he felt compelled to make this film. In the audience were the film's star, Josh Brolin, his father, James Brolin, and stepmom Barbra Streisand, as well as Richard Dreyfuss, Al Pacino, Noah Wyie, Jodie Foster, James Woods, Paul Haggis, Sid Ganis, Brett Ratner, Bill Maher, Ellen Barkin, Casey Affleck, Ed Zwick, James Mangold and Maria Bello.

"First, let me tell you that this is based on a true story, despite what many of you may believe," Stone said. "We did a lot of research to bring to light some of that murky stuff that has taken a long time to come out. In that vein, I have to thank all the investigative journalists, the dozen or so that really broke the ice, including Bob Woodward, David Corn, Michael Isikoff, Ron Suskind, Jane Mayer, Barton Gelman, Frank Rich. So many of them worked very hard, and that raw body of work was the basis from which to simplify and condense into our movie."

As well as dramatizing the agenda behind the Iraq war, and why no WMD were ever found, Stone's film deals with the complex rivalry between George W. Bush and his disapproving father, former President George H.W. Bush.

It also portrays W.'s wild, unfocused youth, his failures and ambitions, and his conversion to 'born again' Christianity, a move that ultimately helped get him elected as governor of Texas and later, as POTUS.

Dreyfuss is chilling as VP Dick Cheney, while Thandie Newton is transformed into a gawky, glowering Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. As W., Brolin gives an astonishing, layered and -- many attendees suggested -- Oscar-worthy performance.

But even Stone admits that there's much more about George W. Bush to be learned.

"I think there's more to come out, but I think there's enough here to start," Stone said. "And in that vein, I have to ask, we had to ask ourselves why we made this movie. That question leads to where we are as a country and where are we going. And a large part of the answer lies here, in the character of George W. Bush."

At the post-cocktail party, Stone, Dreyfus and Brolin were congratulated and thanked for making a film that was called "astonishing" and "terrifying."

"One of the most frightening films I have ever seen," said one film producer.

The timing for Stone's film could not be better, as we face yet another presidential election in which religious beliefs will again play a heightened role in deciding who ultimately runs this country.

As one party-goer noted, "The problem with 'W.' is that the people who really need to see this film probably won't. "

What do you think about Oliver Stone's "W?" Based on what you're heard or read, will you go see it? And if not, why not?

Photo: "W." star Josh Brolin and director Oliver Stone
WireImage

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