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Frost/Nixon (Howard, 2008)

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Frost/Nixon (Howard, 2008)

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Old 08-22-08, 10:27 PM
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Frost/Nixon (Howard, 2008)

tribute.ca synopsis:
For three years after being forced from office, U.S.
President Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) remained silent. But in summer 1977, the steely, cunning former commander-in-chief agreed to sit for one all-inclusive interview to confront the questions of his time in office and the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency. Nixon surprised everyone in selecting David Frost (Michael Sheen) as his televised confessor, intending to easily outfox the breezy British showman and secure a place in the hearts and minds of Americans.

Likewise, Frost's team harbored doubts about their boss' ability to hold his own. But as cameras rolled, a charged battle of wits resulted. Would Nixon evade questions of his role in one of the nation's greatest disgraces? Or would Frost confound critics and bravely demand accountability from the man who'd built a career out of stonewalling? Over the course of their encounter, each man would reveal his own insecurities, ego and reserves of dignity—ultimately setting aside posturing in a stunning display of unvarnished truth.
IMDB

release date: Friday December 5, 2008
director: Ron Howard
studio: Universal Pictures
producer(s): Brian Grazer, Eric Fellner, Ron Howard, Tim Bevan
screenplay: Peter Morgan
cast: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Rebecca Hall, Toby Jones, Matthew Macfadyen, Kevin Bacon, Oliver Platt, Sam Rockwell




Trailer here. Frank Langella won raves for his performance as Nixon in the stage version, so I'm definitely looking forward to this one.
Old 08-22-08, 10:29 PM
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You lost me at Ron Howard.
Old 08-22-08, 10:41 PM
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Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt
You lost me at Ron Howard.
I'm confident he'll be able to handle the material competently. Since it will be taken directly from the stage play, with the same primary actors who have lived in these roles on Broadway, all the film needs is a steady, experienced hand. I just hope Howard is able to resist indulging in the slick sentimentality that has bogged down many of his previous directorial efforts.
Old 09-17-08, 05:52 PM
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Old 09-18-08, 05:22 PM
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Saw the trailer in the theater today - looks good to me.
Old 09-18-08, 06:29 PM
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Could they please find an actor who looks somewhat like Richard Nixon the next time he is portrayed on the big screen!? I didn't buy it with Anthony Hopkins. And I certainly don't buy it with Frank Langella. Especially with him using his Sean Connery voice.
Old 09-18-08, 08:32 PM
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If anybody looks like Nixon now its Hugo Weaving. He already has the receding hair line and all he needs is a bigger nose.
Old 09-18-08, 08:50 PM
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I've always got a kick out of Dan Hedaya as Nixon in Dick.
Old 10-15-08, 10:06 PM
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Early reviews are mixed.
Old 10-16-08, 01:23 AM
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Originally Posted by NoirFan
Not shocked, considering Howard is such a mediocre director.
Old 10-16-08, 07:34 AM
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Langella's comeback is something smoldering since Good Night and Good Luck, but I don't think he can match Anthony Hopkins' drunken post-election piano session when he pricelessly yells "COCKSUCKAAAAAAAAARRRRRR!" in Nixon.
Old 10-16-08, 07:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Zen Peckinpah
Langella's comeback is something smoldering since Good Night and Good Luck, but I don't think he can match Anthony Hopkins' drunken post-election piano session when he pricelessly yells "COCKSUCKAAAAAAAAARRRRRR!" in Nixon.
Neither one of them can match Philip Baker Hall in Secret Honor.
Old 10-17-08, 11:05 PM
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Originally Posted by NoirFan
Neither one of them can match Philip Baker Hall in Secret Honor.
Might have to take advantage of this one through Netflix. Been on my queue for a while now.
Old 11-13-08, 06:30 PM
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Featurette and Clip
Old 11-18-08, 05:31 PM
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Watch four clips on the film's website.
Old 11-25-08, 05:34 PM
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Universal execs wanted Warren Beatty as Nixon. Also, why does this thread not come up in either Google or site searches?
Old 11-26-08, 06:46 AM
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2 things make me lukewarm about this film...Ron Howard directing and the fact that Frank Langella looks & talks nothing like Nixon.
Old 11-26-08, 02:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Jaymole
2 things make me lukewarm about this film...Ron Howard directing and the fact that Frank Langella looks & talks nothing like Nixon.
Langella won a Tony for his performance in the stage version, so he must have done something right.
Old 11-26-08, 02:50 PM
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Originally Posted by NoirFan
Watch four clips on the film's website.
Great clips -- I think this will be one of the year's best.
Old 12-05-08, 07:04 PM
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David Denby's New Yorker review. There's also an enjoyable Australia pan, including this great line: "Luhrmann is drawn to kitsch as inevitably as a bear to honey."
Old 12-06-08, 12:16 AM
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the best Nixon

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/t2DGGmotpY4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/t2DGGmotpY4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Old 12-06-08, 01:19 AM
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It's funny to see Michelle Williams start off from crap to later be in better things. I'm happy for her...
Old 12-06-08, 11:30 AM
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New York Magazine's Ten Greatest Movie Nixons.
Old 12-06-08, 01:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Solid Snake PAC
It's funny to see Michelle Williams start off from crap to later be in better things. I'm happy for her...

Except Dick wasn't crap (it was comedy gold) and neither was Dawson's Creek, really...

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Interested in seeing this. I wish I would have gotten to catch the play.
Old 12-11-08, 02:28 AM
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my review/nitpicks[spoilers]

Everyone's fears about Ron Howard are in full display. One movie it reminds me of is Good Night and Good Luck, which does everything this movie tries, but with much more class, subtlety and style, at 1/4th of this budget...

Howard cheapens it, he doesn't respect the audience at all... the occasional voice-over narration, cuts to the actors being older, reminiscing about the events, sometimes as the action's occurring...every plot point is highlighted with thick marker, such as a voice-over or the generic music. Some of Nixon's behavior is just cartoonish, not to mention Kevin Bacon's entire performance... it all probably worked better as theater.

To me this is one of the big disappointments of the year. I would give it **.5/*****... it's watchable, better for less picky viewers, it just made me roll my eyes the whole way...

Last edited by CloverClover; 12-11-08 at 02:44 AM.


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