WHO REALLY PULLS THE STRINGS IN BUSH'S WHITE HOUSE?

Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Critic

IT'S HARD to imagine even the most dedicated Bush-basher being excited about the prospect of yet another polemical screed against the president and his cronies. And, indeed, ``Bush's Brain,'' timed to arrive as the Republicans are celebrating our ``war president,'' feels like something of a reheated leftover in the wake of ``Fahrenheit 9/11'' and company.

Haphazardly organized and amateurish in its production values, this documentary about Bush presidential adviser Karl Rove contains some damning revelations about the man the filmmakers call our ``co-president,'' but it never comes together as a cohesive portrait of this supposed Svengali. Perversely enough, with its heavy-handed approach - sinister music, wild-eyed implications and cheesy narration from a faux-Rove typing away at his computer - ``Bush's Brain'' resembles the kind of political attack ads that Rove is condemned for creating.

The movie is based on a book of the same name, written by Texas political reporters James Moore and Wayne Slater. Moore and Slater appear in the film, as do a parade of talking heads including just about every foe Rove has vanquished since he became active in the Republican party as a college student. The accusations are the same: there is nothing Rove won't do - lie, manipulate, plant a bug in his own office, call former Texas Gov. Ann Richards a lesbian - to win an election.

Fine. Dirty politics are nothing new. But the filmmakers - the movie was directed by Michael Paradies Shoob and Joseph Mealy - aren't interested in digging deeper. Why are political reporters so easily duped by people like Rove? Why can't the electorate see through the obvious distortions of whisper campaigns?

Instead of asking hard questions or fleshing out the film's fleshy central character (Is Rove married? What does he do for fun besides, you know, kick his dog and tell toddlers that there is no Santa Claus?), the movie wallows in mawkishness. A final segment, talking to survivors of a Marine killed in Iraq, is heartbreaking, but belongs in another movie. (Wait ... that movie was already made by Michael Moore.)

The implication, of course, is that Karl Rove kills people to get his way and destroys those who stand in his way. Sounds like a politician to me. Too bad ``Bush's Brain'' offers little proof, beyond the circumstantial, to convince anyone outside the hallelujah chorus of its accusations.

Glenn Whipp, [phone]

glenn.whipp(at)dailynews.com

BUSH'S BRAIN - Two stars

(PG-13: brief strong language)

Directors: Joseph Mealey, Michael Paradies Shoob.

Running time: 1 hr. 20 min.

Playing: Laemmle's Town Center in Encino; Laemmle's Monica in Santa Monica; Laemmle's Sunset 5 in West Hollywood.

In a nutshell: The last and the least political screed of this election year.

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``Bush's Brain'' aims to portray adviser Karl Rove, left, as the Machiavellian mastermind behind the president's every move.