Oliver Stone's movie doesn't begin to approach this level of character insight or emotion. This genuine drama took place in Tallahassee, after the 2006 mid-term election. Notice the phrases over which the former president stumbles and weeps when talking about his son, Jeb, who served two terms as governor of Florida and was prevented by term-limit laws from running for a third:
"He didn't whine about it, and he didn't complain..."
"The true measure of a man is how you handle victory, and also defeat..."
"... who showed not only by his words but by his actions what decency and honor..."
No editorializing is necessary. You can interpret the emotional truth of the moment for yourself. (You don't need to watch the additional clips of W. appended to this clip after Bush Sr.'s speech.)
Side note: In August, 2007, Jeb Bush was hired by Lehman Brothers, the recently defunct financial firm, as "an advisor to its private equity business." A year ago, questions arose about Jeb Bush's involvement in a Florida credit-crunch scandal.
Had Stone depicted that moment, it would have been similar in its dramatic effect as the ending of Nixon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJW8JHUzz7M
("The greatness comes not when things go always good for you. But the greatness comes when you're really tested, when you take some knocks, some disappointments, when sadness comes. Because only if you've been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.")
But I think that side of George H.W. Bush is in the film. In the scene where he breaks down after losing to Clinton and W. says "I can't stand to see him like this. Hurts too much to lose. I've never going to let this happen to me. Never.", the scene where he's quietly concerned over the war, but "he's President now." and the scene where he cries while interviewed for TV and says he's not going to criticize his son over Iraq because he's not going to help anyone trying to bring him down.
J, I need to scroll down and read your thoughts on "W". But there were actually emotional valleys in these very real moments. "W" stifled everything it could have been.