You have to be cheeky enough to make a movie about the most famous “W.” in the world. In addition, you must have the nerve Oliver Stone has and a brave Josh Brolin, evidently, because no film depicting the life of George W. Bush is really a film without an actor to play the president. And Josh Brolin did not back off. On the contrary, he has thoroughly done his research and his conscientiousness is more than obvious in his compelling impersonation of George W. Bush, as he successfully puts in a nutshell his gesticulation, as well as his way of delivering speeches.

Oliver Stone explained that he merely wanted to make viewers understand the president by offering a reasonable and factual representation of his persona. And in “W.,” the director, who also sparked much controversy with “JFK” and “Nixon,” reveals a somewhat unbiased and compelling sketch of the current U.S. leader. However, this will definitely not stop the fuss and buzz around the production, that’s for sure.

Mr. Stone gives ground to the best known and generally acknowledged features of Mr. Bush’s life story, moving smoothly among the stops on the president’s road to the top, which arise in numerous biographies and reports, varying from his fraternity good old days to his permanent quarrels with his dad, from his tough struggle with alcohol to his way toward spiritual salvation and, finally, to his much talked about decision to send troops in Iraq.

The viewer has already picked a side, while Oliver Stone takes none. He just depicts. And, hopefully, the president himself will see the film as a mere depiction.