WASHINGTON // The woman was so angry she said she almost spat. Her anger was not directed at Oliver Stone's cinematic portrayal of George W Bush but rather at eight years living under "W".
W opened this weekend and is the first Stone film to examine a president still in office. Previous Stone films dissected John F Kennedy's assassination and Richard Nixon.
"I'm so angry," said Carole after seeing W at a cinema in the Georgetown district of Washington, 10 blocks from the White House. "The movie was good and revealed a lot of what happened in the last eight years that I didn't really remember anymore."
Although the film was expected to generate controversy, it was released amid events that have overshadowed the film's main preoccupation - the war in Iraq. The Middle East has been unable to ignore the reverberations of Mr Bush's toppling of Saddam Hussein in 2003, but in the United States the president's record-low approval ratings have been mostly a result of the worst financial turmoil in the United States since the Great Depression.
Initial reviews of W have been lukewarm. The New York Times said the film offered little that was fresh on one of the most dissected presidencies in history, with Mr Bush already subjected to almost forensic examination in countless articles and books as well as such films as Michael Moore's Fahrenheit September 11, a sharp critique of the rush to war and the biggest box-office success in the genre.
"I think many Americans are feeling uneasy because they gave their support to Bush as he led us into the disastrous war in Iraq because of the September 11 attacks," one moviegoer said. "W probably won't do well just like other films about Iraq didn't succeed because people don't like to be reminded of that."
W received only a smattering of applause in the Georgetown movie house, perhaps reflecting some unease among a Washington audience - which included many involved in public affairs during Mr Bush's eight-year leadership - with the almost soap opera-like treatment of recent events.
Although Mr Bush's policies have polarised US residents over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the larger "war on terror", W could disappoint critics of Mr Bush who might have preferred a less sympathetic characterisation.
The director told Newsweek that he thought Mr Bush "impatient, narrow-minded ? a bully", but also "magnetic ? a good father, good husband and good friend". Stone's latest offering was more of a psychological portrait of a man driven to seek the approval of his father, George H W Bush, who sent troops to Kuwait for the 1991 Gulf war but decided not to oust him.
Still, Stone found it difficult to raise the US$30 million (Dh110m) to make his film because backers were scared off by potential controversy. He rushed production to make the pre-election release date and he said he hoped the film would help boost Barack Obama to a Democratic presidential victory on Nov 4. The latest polls show Mr Obama has a strong lead over John McCain, the Republican candidate.
Michelle Nickelson, one of Stone's business partners and now based in Abu Dhabi, said potential investors in the UAE and the rest of the Gulf refused to back W because association with the film might have upset generally close US ties.
"We have investors in the GCC who are interested in getting into films and when I heard Oliver was looking for backing for W, I approached several of them for the project," said Ms Nickelson in an interview during a visit to her native America. "Most thought it would be too controversial. But I think it's a fair portrayal of Bush and not controversial at all and I am not a Bush supporter.
"I think the thing with Oliver's films is it doesn't matter if you do or don't like the film, you have to admire Oliver for being who he is and putting what he thinks on the screen. He's certainly not shy."
A further blurring of the lines between US politics and entertainment took place when Stone made a cameo appearance on this past weekend's edition of the comedy show Saturday Night Live. The show's main attraction was Sarah Palin's appearance alongside Tina Fey, who has in recent weeks given an uncannily realistic impersonation of the Republican vice presidential candidate. Mrs Palin spoke little and smiled a lot as satirical sketches were enacted around her.
It was not known if Mr Bush would watch the film, but Karl Rove, who helped Mr Bush to win two presidential terms, said after seeing the trailer he would never see the movie.
"I don't think they made any attempt to have this conform to any reality except that which exists in the cerebral cortex of Oliver Stone, which is a brain with only a functioning left side," Mr Rove told The Times. "This is a political film that is an attempt to influence an election that is about four years too late."
Stone's next project could prove even more controversial than W - a documentary about Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's president.
Ms Nickelson said the project was initially rejected by Mr Ahmadinejad's office. "I sent a letter to Ahmedinejad explaining why it would be a positive thing to do. Ahmedinejad ended up agreeing in theory and if Oliver decides he still wants to go, I will take him there," she said.
She is also working on another documentary that might receive GCC backing, this one about next year's Iranian presidential election as seen through the eyes of ordinary Iranians.
sdevi@thenational.ae
How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE gold medallists:
Omar Al Suweidi (46kg), Khaled Al Shehhi (50kg), Khalifa Humaid Al Kaabi (60kg), Omar Al Fadhli (62kg), Mohammed Ali Al Suweidi (66kg), Omar Ahmed Al Hosani (73), all in the U18’s, and Khalid Eskandar Al Blooshi (56kg) in the U21s.
Maestro
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THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Automatic
Power: 530bhp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh535,000
On sale: Now
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Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The chef's advice
Troy Payne, head chef at Abu Dhabi’s newest healthy eatery Sanderson’s in Al Seef Resort & Spa, says singles need to change their mindset about how they approach the supermarket.
“They feel like they can’t buy one cucumber,” he says. “But I can walk into a shop – I feed two people at home – and I’ll walk into a shop and I buy one cucumber, I’ll buy one onion.”
Mr Payne asks for the sticker to be placed directly on each item, rather than face the temptation of filling one of the two-kilogram capacity plastic bags on offer.
The chef also advises singletons not get too hung up on “organic”, particularly high-priced varieties that have been flown in from far-flung locales. Local produce is often grown sustainably, and far cheaper, he says.
Playing records of the top 10 in 2017
How many games the top 10 have undertaken in the 2017 ATP season
1. Rafael Nadal 58 (49-9)
2. Andy Murray 35 (25-10)
3. Roger Federer 38 (35-3)
4. Stan Wawrinka 37 (26-11)
5. Novak Djokovic 40 (32-8)
6. Alexander Zverev 60 (46-14)
7. Marin Cilic 43 (29-14)
8. Dominic Thiem 60 (41-19)
9. Grigor Dimitrov 48 (34-14)
10. Kei Nishikori 43 (30-13)
Take Me Apart
Kelela
(Warp)
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
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Recipe
Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo
Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Method
▶ Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.
▶ Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.
▶ Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking, remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.
▶ Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.
THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Director: Ron Howard
2/5
Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
