Thursday, October 09, 2008

Being W


If you were in Paris at the moment you could see a movie made by two French film makers Karl Zero (a nickname) and Michel Royer, dedicated to... George Bush! The main "character" in the movie is, of course, the actual U.S. President, but the voice-over is done by imitator Jim Meskimen. I haven't seen it, but the trailer gives a pretty good idea of the result... As you can imagine, the whole movie is not exactly in favor of Bush. Take a close look at the poster they use to promote the film (that you can see above in the photo, or better here, in the making of); it's an adaptation of a famous painting by Ingres.

65 comments:

  1. I took a pix of the advertisement of the movie when I found it in the metro. I thought it was funny. Not to be confused with Napoleon

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  2. OMG I get to do a Napoleon and crown myself again!

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  3. Phx~~~You look cute in your crown.

    Lol...the trailer was funny.

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  4. The trailer was funny to watch and painful and embarrassing!

    Long Live Phx!

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  6. Karl Zero is really the French Michael Moore.... After a movie "against" Chirac and Sarkozy, now Bush... I did not get the chance to see or rent any of them, but I will have to catch up when I am in France for Xmas holiday ! Thanks for the trailer link. Cheers, Loic http://brohardphotography.blogspot.com

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  7. Wow another movie about Bush - I can't believe it. We have Oliver Stone's "W." coming out this week in the U.S. - I don't know if it's going worldwide yet. As my mother says, if you don't have anything nice to say... I do like Barney Bush though.

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  8. Talking about Michael Moore, anyone have seen his movie SICKO ? There are some really funny part when he is in Paris to analyse the universal health system in France (and Canada, and UK, and Cuba) vs US.... eh, eh... Cheers, Loic http://brohardphotography.blogspot.com

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  9. HA! I would love to see this poster all over the US.

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  10. Wait a minute! George does have supporters, you know. I have yet to meet one of them, but they do exist.

    :P

    Eric you should call the "making of" the "making fun of" for today!

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  11. I'd like to see this film. Looks good. Er...so does Bush... (blush) - putting his politics to one side for a moment (is that at all possible?) is it me or does anyone else find him quite handsome? Have I been single too long? :)

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  12. Hansome, Bush?!!! !$@hugh (cough!!) Holy sh.. I almost strangled myself here!!

    Yes, Lynn, you definitely have been single too long!!

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  13. Bush? Good looking? I just don't know the answer to that, Lynn. I can't look at him anymore.

    Seriously.

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  14. I didn't think Ingres' image could be made to look any more pompously overblown that it already is - but, on this occasion, I'm happy to be wrong.

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  15. Yes, my dear Duchess, it's time for a new beau!

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  16. Yeah, that's it, Lynn. Don't take it the wrong way but ... let's just say it's a sore subject right now for a lot of Americans.

    And besides, personally, I think if I hear someone say "NUKULAR" one more time, I just might lose it. Is it so hard to say "nucLEAR?"!!! (rolling eyes)

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  17. I guess Ms. Palin doesn't know how to say that word either. (rolling eyes)

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  18. I´d like to see this movie, the poster is excellent!

    PHX, I love your "crown myself like Napoleon" remark. You deserve it!

    Lynn, did you get a new haircut???!!! I love your new picture, is it your current hairdo?!

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  19. Lynn~~~You have been SINGLE to long!!!!

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  20. I have to admit it. I'm not a Bush hater. I am a hater of politics and non-stop media coverage though. (Can you imagine living a life where every word is captured for posterity and made fun of by someone? Not for me.) Personally, I want a vacation from all of it.

    Lynn, like the new look!

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  21. Tomate...I'd squeeze you for your Bush and Palin comments (too funnyLOL!)but I might turn you into ketchup...and then where would we be? :-)

    Lynn...Bush, handsome? You're joking right? You kidder!(British humour and all)

    "Amirkins" and "nukular" and all the "my way or the highway" rhetoric needs to be sent over that bridge (or Alaskan road) to nowhere. BTW...when was the last time we Amirkins could get decent health insurance coverage for $5,000 per year? Has McCainical man ever purchased his own health insurance? Hey, but the "surge was great"...let's not forget "the trillion dollar surge!"

    Eric, with regard to this show "Being W", bring it on...I'll be in the front row wearing my Palin glasses dining on salmon cakes!

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  22. First let me say, it would be really hard to make a positive movie about Bush. I'll have to watch for an American release of this movie. It looks like it could be very funny. There is another movie opening this week or next here in the state called "W" that is supposed to be a real story about his life. I haven't heard if its good or bad yet.

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  23. When Paris Hilton launched her fake presidential campaign, I was concerned. Where was the fake VICE-presidential candidate? Then along came Sarah Palin (followed closely by her hilarious, dumbass doppelganger). Now all is right with the world. As long as you prefer the ridiculous to the sublime, that is. Yes, the more reality and satire come to resemble each other, the closer we need to examine the conditions which brought them into such strange - and alarming - proximity.

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  24. Lucio~~~"doppelganger" I'm always confused and now more then ever. What in the world is a doppelganger?

    Help Coltrane, where are you when I need you?

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  25. Dans la peau de George W. Bush??? Pffffftttt.....Beurrrkkkk!! Pass the pretzels please!

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  26. OMG. Pretty damn funny. Except that I'm all laughed out. Years ago. Because it hasn't been a parody. The Ingres parody is pretty funny, though. And appropriate.

    Mme. Bonaparte, my apologies...

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  27. I'm glad you found this photo to shoot Eric. I too saw it in the Metro and couldn't believe my eyes. I can't imagine it being allowed to show in the "new world".

    Lynn, my dear, dear Lynn. All those floods, broken car, hospital visits, crashed PCs, and Australian visitors must have made you all tired and blurry-eyed. I do hope you get to take a vacation (in Paris of course) soon...

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  28. I was going to make a comment to PHX about getting the rules for the Golden Finger award put on Wikipedia, but I don't see a Paris Daily Photo page there! Anybody know how to get one started?

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  29. Gramma Ann, your doppelganger is someone who looks exactly like you. It's said we each have one somewhere in the world.

    I couldn't get the video to play, but I'm not terribly disappointed. I'm not sure I could watch the movie. Like others here, I can't bear the man's face or his voice any longer. And don't get me started on McCain and his show of utter disregard for the American people in his selection of a running mate.

    Here's an interesting link from The Economist: What if the world could vote in the US Election?
    Give it a few seconds to load.

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  30. I was just reading the headlines on France24 and one of the stories is "NOBEL PRIZE - LITERATURE". Do they have one for "Internet Photo Journalism" because I have a particular man in mind ;-) I was out to lunch the other day with a colleague and friend, and he has a colleague and friend who won a Noble Prize. He, Shantanu, said they called him around 2am to come and pose for a photo of his friend accepting the Prize. Well, you know there is a time difference in travel -- that is the reason for the odd hour.

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  31. The trailer was funnier than the movie, IMHO. I don't like Bush or his policies, but sitting through an hour and a half of caustic commentary was tiring (even though I agree with most of it). It was especially hard to watch the 9/11 footage on the big screen. After living the nightmare that is GWB for the past 8 years, it feels a bit masochistic to watch it again in the cinema.

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  32. He he! Oh dear. I need a holiday, you ARE right, my dear Michael. lol. I'd like to say, Coltrane, that it was my English humour pulling your legs,....but.... erm....well, are you sure you're not all letting your head rule your eyes? I mean, to me, looking again today, he still looks kind of....forget the politics, believe me it's a sore point to me too here in the UK. Oh...alright...maybe I've been a bit hasty, now I remember his big 'tough guy walk' I do hate that. Right, I need some gorgeous hunk image in my head to get me back on the straight and narrow. Who do you suggest? :)

    Yes I've cut all my hair off! Well most of it - it was down to my ...well down to there, if you get my meaning. Thanks for noticing - I like it! Good for a change. My hair has always been long, long. The down side is that I no longer have something to swish in dramatic mode... sigh...

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  33. What do you mean a parody? Looks like a straight documentary to me...

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  34. Has anyone noticed the last three photos of Eric's all have the same blue theme? Do you have a new blue filter lens or something Eric? :)

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  35. Aarrrgh I keep forgetting to say things. Tomate the nukular thing drives me INSANE! Why why why does he?

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  36. Petrea~~~Thanks for clearing that up. What a person doesn't learn on PDP!!;)

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  37. Being W....not someone I'd like to switch places with!
    I like him better in the SNL skits :) Love Laura Bush though!

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  38. Aside from the politics and the film itself, I love the photo. To begin with, the neon is totally cool, let alone the way you framed it. Nice job, Eric.

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  39. Thank you Gramma Ann! Very kind. I'm getting used to it - and to having a cold neck!

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  40. Lucio
    You make me laugh! Poor Palin, you do know how to insult people!!

    Lynn
    Gramma Ann is right, your hair is just so sexy! Go girl!

    Everybody
    I met Katie today and she is simply adorable. We went to the Tower of London; had lunch in a restaurant called Rules, my favourite in London; then went for a flight on the London Eye. She must have brought some of the California sunshine with her because the weather was perfect.

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  41. Eric you are really missing out on the photos of the Benaut tour, both at
    Monsieur’s

    and also at

    Madame’s

    blogs, over several days - lots of Paris photos. There, I've made it really easy for you (if these links work!) x

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  42. Sorry. I tried. Well of course you know it's www.adelaidedailyphoto.blogspot.com
    !

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  43. Coltrane: I don't know, if you squeeze hard enough, you might get Ketchup but not Heinz, though ;) (I should be so lucky, uh).

    By the way, Lois, I have had the movie "sicko" in my Netflix queue for the longest time but I have not yet had the courage to watch it. Health care is another sore subject around here. Let's get something straight: I have a deep attachment for this country (US) but there are a couple of things I find absolutely lame (revolting, actually) and health care is on the top of my list. Health Care in the U.S. is a total disgrace!!! Great if you can afford it, but most people can't and have to forgo basic care or go bankrupt if, God forbid, something happens to them... So it's hard for me to sit in front of a movie like that and not feel extremely uncomfortable and restless. I guess at some point, I'll work up the courage to watch it. Thanks for bringing that up. Speaking of courage, Michael Moore is a courageous guy. I saw his Farenheit and Bowling for Columbine movies, and it takes a lot of courage to say the things he did say through the movies.

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  44. "Poor Palin, you do know how to insult people!!" Don't worry Rose, Palin won't understand it anyway. :-)

    Tomate: I'm with you on that one. Health care is an oxymoron in the States.

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  45. Fortunately, I'm old enough to have Medicare, so it picks up 80% of my bills. Which I am very thankful for.

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  46. Oh yes, the new doo Lynn! Looks great! While you're at posting links Lynn(which you've gotten very good at by the way!), why don't you start the Wikipedia article on Paris Daily Photo and we can all chip in! That would be a real cool community approach!

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  47. Eric - you made my day! Love the photo and the trailer is funny. Like many here though, don't know if I could sit through a whole movie. Bush is an embarrassment. I'm sick of this election, but also feel it's crucial to our future.
    Tomate - I'm with you on health care. It's a disgrace here. Do hope you get around to watching Sicko, although it will scare you.

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  48. Well I thought about it, Michael. The writing doesn't bother me of course, but the setting up... eek I'm bound to foul it up.

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  49. Petrea...I LOVE the world voting site!

    Lynn, I'll take a look if others chip in. I just can't dedicate the time to it right now.

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  50. Oh and thank you very much about the hair! he he - giggle - blush - fiddle.

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  51. Ok, I looked quickly and if someone has already written a wikipedia article, it might be better to start with that. After looking at it, I think they might accept better the City Daily Photo concept rather than just one city.

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  52. I think our Abraham Lincoln (blogger, not US President) looks much better as a painting! :)

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  53. LOLOLOL!!! I'm so glad I've missed all this "Is Bush a hunk" talk. I'd love to see this documentary, looks like it'll be great! Why doesn't Coltrane ever want to squeeze me like that? *sigh* Tomate, we'll be watching Sicko is class next Friday, I'll give you the lowdown if you'd like. The health care in this country is definitely jacked up. My bare minimum personal health insurance had people laughing at my obnoxious copay when I went in for my 2nd ear infection in 2 weeks!!!

    Oooh, can't wait to see the Wiki page. I'd contribute but nobody really wants that.

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  54. I will of course contribute too, it's just the techie bit which scares me.

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  55. I think things are a lot more serious than we all think. At least we have PDP to comfort and distract us ehhh??

    A friend sent a tidbit to me today, so I thought I would share.

    "By the way, an anagram for Sarah Palin = A Plain Rash" OH MY!!!

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  56. LOL Tonton! I wasn't sure of the political tone here, but I feel more comfortable now. I am getting a lots of "You look like S. Palin" when my hair is up, so I just say I prefer to think I look like Tina Fey. You bettcha!
    Did anyone noticed the form on the top of the scepter if you dig in close?
    PS: Gramma's are so sweet with their compliments.

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  57. Great eye PHX! Not sure we could show that back in Miami!

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  58. Since I am in FLL right now,I"ll try it out, Miguelito,IF I can live to see tomorrow !!!

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  59. Loved the trailer. The only good thing is that W is almost gone. Sharing this with friends who will appreciate the humor as I do.

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  60. Ha ha! Joke is on us all. After a lot of hard work by "W" & Company, when everyone said it couldn't be done, Iraq is now at peace with its neighbors and more or less at peace with itself (Detroit is more dangerous at this point.) It no longer supports terrorism anywhere in the world, and it no longer pursues weapons of mass destruction.

    Iraq has many new problems now. For example, judges are complaining that police do not bring sufficient valid evidence for criminal trials. Every Arab country should have such problems!

    I would say "W" did OK. He managed to carry out the removal of Saddam from power; this was the policy of the US (voted by Congress and signed by President Clinton) since 1998.

    Compared to the blunders by the Roosevelt administration and the US general staff in WWII, "W" and his gang were a bunch of geniuses. Civilian casualties were lower by orders of magnitude, and there were no botched operations to compare with Dieppe, Slapton Sands, Operation Market Garden, Hürtgen Forest (shall I go on?)

    Best regards,
    SteveR

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  61. I don't care how you put it, GWB has done some ridiculously stupid things while in office, and there is NO EXCUSE for any of them.

    Then again, no matter how you put it, you could replace his name with any of the previous 42 U.S. presidents and the statement would remain true.

    I'm an American, and I think this movie would be fun to watch. Any idea if it's available in the U.S.?

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