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January 25, 2010
Frost/Nixon (2008)
Should I see it?
Well....okay, if you really want to.


Short Review: Do we really need a movie to tell us journalists are out to destroy conservatives and that Nixon was a dink?



This is a well done movie. It is sharply written with fully drawn characters and some memorable dialog. One of the characters is one of the most important public figures in 20th Century America, Richard Nixon. It is based in real events and is the adaptation of a successful play. The performances have been lauded by critics, and I concur that they are praiseworthy.

One problem.

It never gets past the “who cares?” moment.

What do we care? David Frost, a smarmy Australian entertainer/television host lands a series of interviews with Richard Nixon following Nixon’s resignation from the Presidency. The two men verbally and psychologically duel throughout the interviews (both on and off the record). In the end, Frost gets Nixon to admit that his approach to the presidency was overreaching and criminal.

And?

We all already know this.

The man was about to be impeached. We know his thoughts on the power of the Presidency were out of whack with reality.

A film should have a purpose. A film without purpose is little more than a entrancing, flashing lights on a wall. This movie is devoid of a moving point. Its not a deep character study given that we learn nothing new about the characters. Its not a political statement since it is surprisingly without an axe to grind - a remarkable feat in the age of BDS. I couldn’t find any reason for this film to exist other than for the sake of just existing.

Again, it is a aptly made film and the performances are good. I just can’t justify telling people its worth sitting through.




Related Reviews:
Presidential movies
Death of a President (2006)
Thirteen Days (2000)


Other Critic's Reviews:
Cinema Dave
Apollo Movie Guide




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posted by Michelle Obama's Left Nut at 8:00 AM



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January 30, 2009
Guest Review: Frost/Nixon
I want to thank my friend Ron Nordin for allowing me to publish his review of this recent release.



In the hands of a wrong director (think Oliver Stone), this could have been a simplistic, predictable rehashing of all that was wrong with Richard Nixon. It wasn't. Under the direction of Ron Howard and a wonderful cast, Frost/Nixon deftly retells of the people and processes that gave us the famous interviews. The film works well because it expertly contrasts the different egos of David Frost and Richard Nixon. Men with different egos, but pushing them in the same direction. By wisely working this angle the film does not get caught in boring the viewer with the mundane or expected.

Enough cannot be said about Frank Langella's portrayal of Nixon. He catches his movements and idiosyncrasies perfectly without mocking them. He could have portrayed him as clownish and sinister, but instead leaves the viewer seeing him as a tragic figure without inducing false sympathy. Although Nixon is rightly viewed as a failed president, he is seen as undone by his own weaknesses; never quite coming to grips with his failings. These weaknesses are illuminated by Nixon's publicist, Swifty Lazar, whose name and actions become a visual manifestation of Nixon's less than honorable motives. What I appreciate most is the film gives viewers credit by creating very human picture of Nixon and contrasting him with Frost's own selfish motives. This lets the viewer come to their own conclusion about each man without excusing their flaws, something rarely done by Hollywood when examining political and media figures.

I highly recommend this film whether you have interest in the topic or not because it is more than an examination of the famous interviews - it examines why people do the things they do.


Other Critic's Review:
Big Hollywood (Geoff Shepard)
Roger Ebert


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posted by Michelle Obama's Left Nut at 9:00 AM



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August 26, 2008
Movie Trailer: Frost/Nixon
I'm sure Frank Langella gives a fantastic performance as ol' Tricky Dick Nixon. The performances are probably going to be the only thing about this production that will be of any interest. It seems a little forced to be pushing a film about a journalist kicking Nixon in the shins. This trailer makes me ask "why?" Why does this film need to be seen? Why was it made? What's the point? Now, granted I'm a conservative guy so I have some sizable bias here, but seeing the vindictive, self-important "journalists" talking about how Nixon needs to get the "trial that he deserves" seems a little hollow when I recall how blind the same media was towards President Clinton's rape allegations, drug use allegations and all the rest. When are we going to get a movie showing the Ken Starr office's battle to impeach a President who thought he was above the law? We won't but we will dip back thirty years to dredge this up. Hopefully we'll get another McCarthy Era movie out as well.

This may be a good movie, Ron Howard is fronting the thing, but this shoots up my media bias red flags big time.







Screenwriter: Peter Morgan (The Queen)
Director: Ron Howard (The Da Vinci Code)
Actors: Kevin Bacon (Hollow Man), Sam Rockwell (Matchstick Men), Frank Langella (Superman Returns), Patty McCormack (Shallow Ground), Michael Sheen (Blood Diamond), and Oliver Platt (Casanova)

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posted by Michelle Obama's Left Nut at 8:30 PM



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