If Oliver Stone did anything great with W, it was executing a fairly neutral depiction of one of the most polarizing men in the world. The movie emphasizes George W. Bush the man, and doesn't laud over his plethora of political blunders. If there is a scene in the movie that helps us understand George Bush then let it be the initial scene where he meets Laura at the barbecue. Lets face it, all embaressing failures aside, George Bush seems like a charming guy and his ability to woo Laura with meat in his mouth and a different political view gives this statement a case. I mean this exact George Bush is the man who won his first presidency, as voters constantly voted for the guy "they wanted to have a beer with," not with any sense of reason.
But the question that Doctor McCay has produced throws the onus back on his presidency, as an analysis of the "43rd President" is required. If this interpretation of the question proves suitable, then I must say the most revealing scene involving our 43rd President was the interaction between Bush and Karl Rove on the park bench. As Bush sits and ponders the advice Rove is bestowing, Rove hovers ever so symbolically over the lesser brain of the President. For me this scene struck home because when I look back on Bush's 8 year reign of fire, I cannot help but think that Karl Rove was the true mastermind/Puppeteer of the Bush administration. Under this light, its only fitting that Karl Rove, in the park bench scene, is completely telling Bush how to answer, behave, and think like a President.
The scene is important, and your interpretation of Rove's power is interesting, but you do no mise-en-scene analysis. what is the dominant in the scene? How is the scene lit? What are the character and camera proxemics, etc.?
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