W. didn't go down very well in its home country. The conservative press hated it because they were always going to, and the liberal press hated it because the other side didn't hate it enough. Forget about the politics for a minute though, and the fact that Oliver Stone hasn't made a good movie in over 10 years, and you realise that W. is much, much better than it has any right to be.

Thank the Lord for Josh Brolin, who has had such an unbroken run of critical acclaim recently that its almost impossible to believe that he was taking supporting roles in bad Jessica Alba films just a couple of years ago. The charm and emotional depth he lends to America's 43rd head of state may be disappointing to anyone who'd rather think of George Bush as a living incarnation of Satan, but it's also hard to think of anyone who could play Dubya better.

Quick paced and well acted, W. isn't amazing but it's nowhere near bad.

3 and a half recycled Bushisms out of 5.

'INTERESTING' FACT: Thandie Newton couldn't act her way out of a cardboard box.