Two Blondes review a movie and ramble about themselves.
JESSICA SAYS:
I am not old enough to have any first-hard knowledge of Watergate or Nixon. I only know the handful of TV clips that get replayed: sweating during the debates, “I am not a crook,” the wave as he boarded Marine One for the last time, etc. Also, I grew up hearing my grandmother refer to Nixon, almost exclusively as Tricky Dick. I remember asking my Mom once, why was he ’tricky.’ “He lied,” she told me. “Don’t all politicians lie?” “Well, he lied about trying to spy on people who disagreed with him.” I didn’t get any more information than that about Watergate in school because our textbooks always seemed to stop right after World War II, as if nothing noteworthy happened after that. Perhaps that is because I went to public schools with text books that were at least a decade old, which means Watergate was still recent history when they were written. It’s OK though, you don’t have to be a historian to enjoy this movie.
The synergy of Frost/Nixon being released during a scandal involving a powerful politician brought down by taped conversations where he talks about, amongst many appalling things, going after the press for criticizing him is remarkable. Even more remarkable to me is that out of the two of them, Richard Nixon is more sympathetic than Rod Blagojevich.
Frank Langella is absolutely fan-freaking-tistic as Richard Nixon. If he doesn’t at least get an Academy Award nomination, then I don’t want to know ya, Academy. Michael Sheen and Langella are as well matched as opponents as Frost and Nixon were. You find yourself rooting for the good guys to pin the bastard to the wall, while at the same time sympathizing with the villain (his dad was mean to him and he just wants to be liked…).
Was Diane Sawyer really part of the team trying to put a shine on Richard Nixon’s image after he resigned? I don’t want that to be true because I like Diane Sawyer.
I recommend this movie to…everyone. Seriously. Go see this movie.
ALISON SAYS:
I’ll be honest, I’m not the biggest history buff. My knowledge is spotty at best when it comes to basic things having to do with the history of our country and the world. I wish I was like my father and retained that kind of stuff (he would kill on Jeopardy orTrivial Pursuit), but I don’t and I sometimes find it boring. So I was kinda concerned that I would find Frost/Nixon boring and wish I had just stayed in and watched more DVD’s of Friday Night Lights. I was also concerned I wouldn’t know what was going on, because when I think of Nixon, the first thing that comes to mind are the Nixon masks Patrick Swayze’s gang donned in Point Break. But all my fears were unfounded. I loved the movie. I’m not saying it’s a perfect film by any means, but it is interesting and really sucks you in.
Frank Langella’s Nixon broke my heart. I was shocked to find myself sympathizing with Nixon, but Langella’s amazing performance won me over. I just wanted to give Nixon a hug. I was also really impressed with Kevin Bacon, because there were definitely times where I forgot it was Kevin Bacon and just saw a loyal, tough colleague to the ex-president. I can’t really think of one weak link among the entire cast. And of course there is their fearless and adorably red-headed leader; Ron Howard is a pro. The guy knows how to direct and how to make a great film. He will always hold a special place in my heart, because he made Splash and he brought the world Arrested Development. I also love that he and his producing partner, Brian Grazer, have been together from the beginning. It’s a bromance made in Hollywood heaven. I kinda stumbled into Brian Grazer the other day in Beverly Hills (yes I am very, very clumsy), and he was super nice, not at all blustery or asshole-ish like some big film producers would be.
LA Viewers: It’s worth paying full price at the Grove or Arclight.
Translation for non-LA natives: Get to the theaters
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