For days now, I've been hearing how critics are "raving" over Oliver Stone's new movie about George Dubya Bush. I am not, however, hearing this from the critics. I live in Houston, you see. For some reason, Lionsgate has chosen not to show the film to critics here in Daddy Bush's home town. Even critics who live elsewhere but who write for Houston publications were out of luck. The Houston Chronicle's reviewer lives in Albany, N.Y., for some reason. Lionsgate wouldn't screen it for her.

(I hear a Chronicle writer drove to Austin to catch a Wednesday morning screening there in order to get a locally written review in the paper. All of Texas wasn't frozen out — just Houston.)

This makes no sense to me. The Houston Film Critics Society didn't like it either. Members are discussing how strongly to protest the studio's action.

Critics who have seen the movie like it overwhelmingly, according to Rottentomatoes. I suspect Houston critics would like it, too, but most of us — those who couldn't fly or drive to other cities to see it early — will have to wait until after the movie opens to write our positive reviews.

Studios usually keep the lid on movies they know critics are going to hate, which makes sense from the studio's perspective - why spend money on early screenings when you know the scathing reviews aren't about to add to the bottom line? The studio's local representatives either won't or are unable to shed light on Liongate's reasoning concerning W. So my best guess is that the studio figures Houstonians won't turn out for the film in large numbers anyway, no matter what the critics say, so why spend money on screenings.

Of course, that makes no sense. Most of the people I know would spend money for a good laugh at Dubya's expense. And whatever else the film may be, it looks like it will be a hoot, judging from the trailers.