Frost/Nixon

[Watashi]

Trailer (http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/08/20/must-watch-ron-howards-frostnixon-trailer/)

Holy Musical Cues Batman!

Did we just go from Teenage Wasteland to The Fountain?

[Ezee E]

Trailer (http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/08/20/must-watch-ron-howards-frostnixon-trailer/)

Holy Musical Cues Batman!

Did we just go from Teenage Wasteland to The Fountain?
Origami edited it!

:)

[DavidSeven]

He might as well have opened it with "Solsbury Hill" and completed the ridiculously cliched trailer music trifecta.

[number8]

The name of the goddamn song is Baba O'Riley, goddammit.

[/pet peeve]

[Arthur Seaton]

I normally don't like Ron Howard movies, but the pairing of Sheen/Langella and the accolades the play received make this one of my most anticipated films of the fall.

[Pop Trash]

I normally don't like Ron Howard movies, but the pairing of Sheen/Langella and the accolades the play received make this one of my most anticipated films of the fall.

I'm more interested in how W. turns out to be honest.

[Watashi]

Bush vs. Nixon for Best Actor?

[Qrazy]

I can barely remember a single scene from Cinderella Man, what a waste of space.

[number8]

I can barely remember a single scene from Cinderella Man, what a waste of space.

I only remember that one inspiring tracking shot where he punches poverty in the face, symbolizing the struggle of blue collar Americans against Jewish rapists.

[Ivan Drago]

It'll probably be boring as hell, but Langella looks and sounds great as Nixon.

[MadMan]

I saw the trailer for this film when I went to view Burn After Reading. I think it looks pretty freakin' amazing. Of course it could be that the trailer was really just great, and that the movie may not be the best. But right now I think otherwise. It could also be that I don't hate Ron Howard as much as others do.

[Hugh_Grant]

I saw the trailer for this film when I went to view Burn After Reading. I think it looks pretty freakin' amazing...

I agree. Can't. Freaking. Wait.

[Raiders]

Am I the only one who saw this? Though unexpected, it was the most enjoyable movie I saw over the weekend.

A novel concept from Peter Morgan to create the film as essentially a four round boxing match between the two competitors. It's obviously liberal pandering, and from many accounts I have read re-writes the tone of many of the exchanges from the real life events to create its own piece of historical fiction. Howard does a decent job with the interviews, especially in his many claustrophobic shots and scenery, stressing the way these two sort of become lost amongst their own rivalry, essentially losing control or perspective on occasion which gives some consideration into the revealing nature of the bout. It certainly is not a deep, complex or even very thoughtful film and Morgan and Howard have nothing new or interesting to say about Nixon. The real issue may simply be this film is all hoopla about an event that meant the most to the two people in the ring, both vying for renewed vitality. The movie, and I would assume the play, seem to think this event is a defining moment in media history, as if Nixon wasn't already a dead pariah and Frost a TV personality who is of no real importance. But such isn't the case, and it accents the fact that the film's center and its lame, useless framing device of "interviews" with aids for both sides, are all surface. The dialogue here is probably even more cringe-worthy than in Benjamin Button, if not for theme-pronouncing, for uselessly spelling out every single detail. Then again, if Opie is directing your movie, and its basis is a stage play, you probably should not count on much visual stimulation.

[NickGlass]

Though unexpected, it was the most enjoyable movie I saw over the weekend.

I find it amusing that you claim it was enjoyable, yet you spend the rest of your thoughts extolling its values of competence. Mostly, I agree.

It's bizarre that the film has the audacity to momentarily indict David Frost's character for being too hung up on "banal anecdotes" instead of focusing on incisive political commentary, when Frost/Nixon exudes these very fluffy qualities: it's a slick, glossy production of History for Dummies. I can passively accept the film for its serviceability--just don't get me started on Rebecca Hall's character.

Nonetheless, I can't wait for Couric/Palin, coming to a theater near you in 2039.

[Raiders]

I find it amusing that you claim it was enjoyable, yet you spend the rest of your thoughts extolling its values of competence. Mostly, I agree.

That's more of a statement on the lack of enjoyment I got from the other films than it is on how truly enjoyable this film was. I just didn't expect Ron Howard to deliver the most satisfying (again, by comparison) theater experience of the extended weekend.

[number8]

I liked it too. Much better than I thought it would be. Langella and Sheen are great, although I didn't like the mockumentary narrative device. Useless.

[Morris Schæffer]

Only fifteen measly replies for this? I just came back from it and loved it. It is my second favorite movie of 2008. True, as Raiders has said, we are perhaps not really learning anything new, but that's all right as this is basically an allmighty showdown between "some talkshow host" and the comparatively bigger Ex-President. Sheen and especially Langella are truly fabulous by the way. Also, I saw no evidence of cringe-worthy dialogue.

[MadMan]

This film has yet to come to my area. Maybe its time to move out of the sticks. :|

[Wryan]

I liked it too. Much better than I thought it would be. Langella and Sheen are great, although I didn't like the mockumentary narrative device. Useless.

Useless? What!? Would you call The Real World's on-camera revelations "useless"?

Oh wait, yeah. Those was terrible.

And the film has a few of Howard's/Grazer's "on the nose" moments of flyswatter subtlety. But the acting is darn near immaculate and the clear reason to see the film.

[chrisnu]

While I think that Frank Langella gave a nuanced performance, and Kevin Bacon was good as well, I don't think that there's anything I got from Frost/Nixon that I couldn't have gotten better from watching the interview itself. I didn't really sit down and think about the concept of this movie beforehand. It's primarily a movie about the making of an interview, and specifically the match of wits in the interview. Very little of it is actually about the interview, or the aftermath, or about the character of Nixon himself. I think that the faux-documentary interludes are a very egregious example of telling a story without showing it. While the typical hero's journey of Frost eventually becomes compelling when the interview reaches its breaking point, the filmmaking is so static and boring it's difficult to care by the time it comes. Good Night, and Good Luck handled political protest through the medium of television far better.

[Morris Schæffer]

While the typical hero's journey of Frost eventually becomes compelling when the interview reaches its breaking point, the filmmaking is so static and boring it's difficult to care by the time it comes.

I thought the movie had excellent build-up all the way through. I was frequently on the edge of my seat so to speak.

[Dukefrukem]

I thought the movie had excellent build-up all the way through. I was frequently on the edge of my seat so to speak.

I agree, but it's not the same kind of build up/climax in a lot of fiction movies... This is one of those films where you know the premise, you know how it happens, you know what to expect, it HAPPENS, and once it does you have satisfaction because you see the defeat and self loathing of the antagonist, but it's not a great feeling of satisfaction...at least in my case. I'd never watch this movie again nor want to, but it was a mediocre experience in a good movie. For that, I can't see it winning best picture of the year. This is not to say that Langella's performance wasn't brilliant. He did a fantastic job.

[MadMan]

Great movie. Fantastic performances all around, and I liked the overall style of the picture. Although I probably didn't need to see in this in theaters, I really wanted to at least view one Best Picture nominee before the Oscars. Not much else to offer, as I'd rather review this one.

[ledfloyd]

I don't think that there's anything I got from Frost/Nixon that I couldn't have gotten better from watching the interview itself.
aside from the hamburger scene i agree. i think this is a fundamental problem with both frost/nixon and milk. even though both are well made films with some great scenes. the actual frost/nixon interviews and the times of harvey milk are both stronger IMO.

[Wryan]

aside from the hamburger scene i agree. i think this is a fundamental problem with both frost/nixon and milk. even though both are well made films with some great scenes. the actual frost/nixon interviews and the times of harvey milk are both stronger IMO.

Yeah, I could watch Alexander Nevsky, but I'd rather just study Russian history...

[Kurosawa Fan]

It never ceases to amaze me how Ron Howard can take an interesting subject and turn it into a boring film. At least he's consistent.

[Watashi]

Frost/Mehxon?

[Ezee E]

K-Fan has been unlucky with movies. Too bad he didn't get to Rachel Getting Married.

[Kurosawa Fan]

K-Fan has been unlucky with movies. Too bad he didn't get to Rachel Getting Married.

Seeing it today. My expectations are in check, considering how disappointing this season has been.

[Ezee E]

I would hope that you would like it as its one of my favs of the year, but it's a tough one to figure out if others will like.