Director rolls in for premiere of W

7:02pm Sunday 26th October 2008

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Oliver Stone stressed that his latest film W was not anti-Republican propaganda, despite his personal endorsement of US Presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

"It's a great story. This guy changed history. We underestimated him," he said of George W Bush at the film's premiere at The Times BFI London Film Festival.

"He took over the world stage and pushed the extremists' buttons."

Oliver said Bush "had left us in a dark hole" but his intention was for people to watch W and understand more about the man and how he became president.

The film follows the young Bush and shows him meeting Laura, becoming President and eventually taking the decision to invade Iraq.

Actor Josh Brolin said he had initially turned down the lead role.

"I didn't understand what he (Stone) was going for. I thought Oliver had an agenda," he said. "It wasn't until I read the script that I realised it was a brilliant character study."

Josh, whose performance has received critical acclaim, said: "I went into a five-month black-out and did all the study I could."

The movie also stars Elizabeth Banks, Ellen Burstyn, James Cromwell and Richard Dreyfuss.