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Ron Howard’s Done With FROST/NIXON And We’ve Got A Review!
Hey, everyone. ”Moriarty” here.
Ron Howard is a machine.
I am always amazed by these guys who can move from one film to another without pause, and Howard stays crazy busy. FROST/NIXON was a great play, and I thought the script adaptation was very strong. It all comes down to how well Howard co-ordinates these performances and how he’s able to turn this into a cinematic experience as opposed to just a stage piece.
To the Pseudonym whom it may concern,
Ron Howard screened his new movie FROST/NIXON last night for Leonard Maltin's Film Symposium class at USC, followed by a lengthy Q&A. I've seen some earlier opinions on the movie on this site, so I thought I'd weigh in with mine.
First of all, I believe what we saw was the finished film. Howard said during the Q&A that the movie's release date has been pushed back to December for prime awards consideration, but the film is totally finished, music and all. We were, according to Ronnie, the first audience to see this completed version.
While the word from earlier screenings, my knowledge of the historical material, and the hit or miss track record of the director had my expectations pretty low, the completed film is a knock out. Earlier complaints about unsure pacing and questionable structure seem to have been taken to heart, as this final cut flows with a steady hand, and the structure (which mixes the lead up and behind the scenes of the titular interviews, the interviews themselves, and brief insight provided by "hindsight" documentary style interviews with the supporting cast) never seems anything but natural and effective. Howard and screenwriter/playwright Peter Morgan have taken material of dubious cinematic potential and turned in something resembling the "intellectual ROCKY" that Morgan initially pitched to David Frost when conceiving the original play.
This film undoubtedly marks a return to form for little Ronnie Howard, who is at his best a middle-class man's Spielberg (FROST/NIXON, APOLLO 13), at his worst a studio hack (DaVinci Code), but the movie would be nothing without the two lead performances from Michael Sheen (David Frost) and Frank Langella (Richard Nixon). As we learned in Ronnie's Q&A, the studio pushed to replace these two actors, the stars of the West End/Broadway play, with big name stars, but Howard and Brian Grazer were able to bring them to their senses and keep the original bill intact. This is the best decision Howard could have made in the entire production. Sheen, having lived in this roll for months, effortlessly inhabits the playboy/talk show host/sometime journalist David Frost, a man who has been called a great ambition and a questionable talent. He underlines Frost's smarmy, arrogant charisma with a great drive and humanity, and we believe his character as he transforms over the course of his dealings with Nixon.
Langella's Nixon is not Jamie Foxx's Ray Charles, a spitting image of the man in appearance and voice. Frank Langella does not look like Nixon and scarcely sounds like Nixon, but plays the character of Nixon like the old master that he is. When we meet him he is already a broken man, shattered by the shame of the Watergate scandal. On the outside, he is still the politician who smiled and displayed the "victory" sign on his disgraceful exit from the White House, but behind closed doors he suffers immensely with his own self image. Langella understands this man, what he has been through and what he desires, and absolutely owns every scene that he is in. It's a powerful, often heartbreaking performance, as Nixon the man tries desperately to escape from beneath Nixon the villain. He makes the 70's icon of deceit utterly human, and it gives the movie all the credibility it needs.
When Langella and Sheen interact, this movie is a powerhouse of Hollywood cinema. The interviews are electric; the shifts in power almost playing like suspenseful action scenes. The emotional centerpiece of the film, a (sadly totally fictional) late night phone call from the President to his "opponent" is a near instant classic.
The movie's flaw comes in the supporting cast. Kevin Bacon, Sam Rockwell, and Oliver Platt play their rolls well, especially Rockwell as a zealous anti-Nixon researcher on Frost's team, fleshing out the story and providing quite a few generally funny moments. However, as well known as Bacon and Rockwell are, they have a tendency to draw you out of the reality created by casting semi-anonymous character actors in the starring rolls. This is mostly a problem when Howard films them in documentary-style interviews, which aren't quite convincing given these actors' high profile. This is not a major complaint, as all the actors still bring quite a bit to the film as a whole.
When the Q&A began, Leonard Maltin, who always refrains from letting his opinions slip into these proceedings, could not help but tell Ronnie that he had made "a great film," and I have to concur. It is every bit the strong "adult entertainment" Howard said he set out to make. Universal is holding this movie back until December for a reason, and come Oscar time I expect a few nominations, for Sheen and Langella at the least. It probably won't be a Best Picture heavyweight, but it is a tremendous small-scale entertainment.
As a side note probably of interest to the readers, Ronnie substantiated recent rumors that he and his collaborators are hard at work trying to bring an Arrested Development movie to fruition. This is good news for all of the world.
With Love,
Gordon Shumway
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+ Expand All
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Da Vinci Code sucked.
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..of what?
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what's this actually about. Nixon's story hardly qualifies as an unturned stone. So what, some post Watergate Nixon movie... what's new or interesting about this?
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that I could give a shit about this movie.
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part of the Martin/Charlie family?
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my favorite word. Sounds like a dirty word lol.
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No, I don't think this guy's a plant. It's worse than that. He's a wannabe Hollywood insider. I love the way he writes like he's part of the crowd . "A return to form for little Ronnie Howard." Dude, if you want to review films (especially on AICN), that's great, but take a note from Ebert and Maltin--write reviews that sound like they came from YOU, not the thesaurus. Write for the people, not for Film Comment.
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is a movie about George W. Oh wait.
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Michael Sheen is a British actor who is most well known for playing Tony Blair in The Queen.
He also got to screw Kate Beckinsale...
However, he's not related to the Martin Sheen clan. -
he looks like he could be.
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I saw FROST/NIXON on Broadway when I visited NYC over the summer last year... I only went because the tickets were cheap and my girlfriend wanted to see a show while we were there.
I was BLOWN away. If the movie is anywhere near as dynamic as the live production I'm sure it'll get some Oscar nods. -
Maybe, eh?
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I don't care about Nixon. And sounds like Gordon Shumway really wants Leonard Maltin to think he's smart by mirroring Maltin's opinion. Brown-noser!
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AND I LOVE THIS REVIEW!!!!!!!!
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Nixon is like trying to suck the last few drops out of a defunct, political, oil well. It reeks of desperation (Nixon had little deep seated political beliefs: hated hippies and referred to conservatives as "crazies").
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So every fucking body that likes a movie is a shill for the studio... we get it, now STFU.
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Ronnie Howard? Is that you?
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When will we get a movie about Bill Clinton and his interviews about screwing an intern in the Oval Office? You know, the one where he talked about lying under oath to a Federal Grand Jury, and having his license to practice law in front of the Supreme Court revoked, and ACTUALLY BEING IMPEACHED? Oh, that's right. He hasn't done any. Nixon was a flawed man, no doubt, but at least he had the balls to RESIGN and talk to Frost about it on the record.
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Nice review, but Howard is awful. I'll skip this like French class.
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shut the fuck up already
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The Rs still pissed they couldn't take down Clinton for lying about a blowjob. Tells ya where their priorities lie.
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That is all
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Wasn't Anthony Hopkins already nominated for an Oscar for this movie? I would much prefer Grand Theft Autos take on Natural Born Killers.
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... you stupid cunt. I think Richard Nixon was a remarkable man, and I'm seeing this because I'm still fascinated by him. Where did I say ONE WORD in the intro that would villify Nixon or imply that I dislike him or that this film is a hatchet job? It's not. It's actually a pretty fair look at a pivotal moment in Nixon's public persona. Take your liberal propaganda label and shove it up your small minded ass. I'm so tired of morons like you who think you have ANY IDEA about my personal politics. You don't, and you sound stupider each and every time you trot out that label.
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It's been 2 years since the Da Vinci Code, hasn't it? Spielberg put two movies in both 2002 and 2005. THAT is the definition of a machine, not Ron Howard.
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If you think Arrested Development is shit, then you have my pity.
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This was a good little review to post aintitcool, and seriously Frank Langella deserves to FINALLY be recognized. Looking forward to this.
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The play and the players are of far too high a quality. So I'm assuming he hasn't.
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Met the marketing manager of universal from my country a few weeks ago and she told me that she was impressed by the raw cut she already saw and that the company will be aiming for the oscars.
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Seriously, the guy has been gone from the oval office for 34 years now, yet they STILL revel in his downfall. Yeah, he sucked, woohoo, I'd still rather see him crowned king than have Jimmy Carter president for a week. I guess we'll have to wait until the 40's of this century to stop hearing about Tricky Dick from every leftist douche filmmaker out there.
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I know you're just speaking your mind, and I realize you feel there needs to be more equal time for the conservative point of view on AICN (or perhaps in the world in general,) but it seems you never skip an opportunity to stand up and volunteer to sound like a total tool in front of everybody.
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Vietnam,his hands in corrupting the health care system and not to mention how much he hated blacks,"hippies" and others that did'nt fit his criteria.Oh and of course there's Watergate.I could care less about him or this Movie.And Mori, why so serious?
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Actors play roles. And "Ronnie" used to be billed as Ronny Howard.
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You can rant and insult whomever you want, but ban posters at your whim? You're the stupid cunt. Ban me again, you pussy. I'll just return, as always.
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though I have no idea what the fuck it means. Still, a laugh's a laugh.
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Apr 20, 2008 8:52:08 AM CDT
And the most overrated director of the last 20+ years is???
by deucefilms
Howard's directing career actually got off to an entertaining start (Night Shift, Splash, Cocoon and Gung Ho). Then he appears to get desperate to prove that he can be the next Lucas/Spielberg (Willow). After that, it feels like he's more concerned with winning an Oscar than he is with making a good movie. Most of the films he has made over the last 20 years have "Oscar Bait" written all over them, only for each of them to turn out to be completely underwhelming once you see his personal touch (or lack of) on the film. The guy is notorious for making films that sound like they could be great on paper only to feel BLAH when you're watching them on the big screen. Backdraft, Far and Away, The Paper, Ransom, Ed TV, Cinderella Man and The DaVinci Code were all movies that were serious disappointments after hearing all the hype surrounding them. AND shoot me if A Beautiful Mind is one of the worst films EVER to win a Best Picture Oscar. But I guess the studios love him, since, even though all of his movies are totally forgettable, they all seem to make tons of money for some strange reason. Then again, movies like Wild Hogs make tons of money too.
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I don't disagree with you that much... Much of Howard's work has been disappointing. It's like he has the right instincts but he can never bring it in for a landing. Still, you leave out the one time, appropriately, he did. Apollo 13 is pretty damn close to perfect and has grown in value over the years. It's a sort of double-nostalgia now - not just for the 60's moon missions, but for the optimism and (yes) patriotism of 90's film. (Gee I wonder why we felt good about America in those days. Hmm. Who was prez? Not Nixon...) Other than Apollo 13, the only Howard film I own is Night Shift - still, to me, the funniest and just best overall film he ever made. And I keep coming back to Ransom and hoping somehow it will get better. With Richard Price's script it could have been great. Unfortunately, it just gets stupid in the end.
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Sucks.
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direct Clint direct!
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Let's face it, folks - It ain't about the policy decisions, or the impact on history, or the ebbs and flows of an ever-evolving Living Constitutional Democracy; Guys like Cygnus are about Following the Leader, because Kissing Ass is how you get into Heaven.
Shit, ALL successful politicians have a core group that will defend them unto death (and even after), no matter how badly they fuck up..........but in W's case, not since George Wallace have I seen a politician that so brazenly pandered to the WORST instincts of this country's electorate, versus it's best. Blind, BLIND Loyality over even the simplest level of basic Reason. W coulda stood up in front of Congress at the last State of the Union, scratched his ass and fed a live puppy through a meat grinder, and Cygnus would've leapt out of his chair with the biggest hard-on of his life, screaming "See? SEE?!? THAT'S what it takes to defeat the terrorists!!! I'm HARD! I'M HAAAAARRRD! TAKE ME, JESUS!!!"
You just can't argue with that kind of devotion. Literally. It's what suicide bombers are made of.......... -
Apr 20, 2008 9:52:52 AM CDT
R.I.P. SUBJECT LINE "WWW.AINTITLIBERALPROPAGANDA.COM"
by bringingsexyback
Looks like "Damn You Michael Bay" is the winner in the repeated subject line war. Now Cygnus can go back to play with his Trek action figures and leave politics for the sane, or even moderately lucid.
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Thank goodness most Republicans aren't of the Dittohead type like Cygnus. Did you check out the latest Bill Maher? Jeremy Scahill interviewed a bunch of Republican bikers - and past Bush voters - in PA and they overwhelmingly supported Obama - with the war and the economy as the deciding factors. Can't wait til November. The ship is finally gonna be steered right.
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We do get testy about politics here on AICN, don't we? Wow.
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Have they no respect for the dead?
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http://tinyurl.com/5dxyqj
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Yay!
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Apr 20, 2008 11:11:50 AM CDT
don't worry CreasyBear, I have no idea what that means either
by ironic_name
salt tastes salty, discuss.
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Alex Baldwin didn't get the role of Nixon. He was really good on the rock.
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Who proudly proclaim they have no interest in this. A tragic US president?? History?? Social and cultural resonance?? Fuck that, man. When is the next video game turned movie coming out? Ignorance is always so fucking proud of itself. No wonder movies suck so badly these days.
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Yeah, it's obvious Oscar bait and it follows that basic boxing movie formula, but watching that movie is just pure joy (granted, I'm a boxing movie nut). And Russel Crowe is pretty fuckin awesome in it. Hopefully it will get more love as the years go by.
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Apr 20, 2008 1:24:38 PM CDT
I'VE HAD A BEAUTIFUL MIND SITTING ON THE SHELF FOR YEARS NOW
by bringingsexyback
Maybe I should actually watch it?
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..however it was no match for Denzel's Oscar winning role as the crooked cop Lorenzo in Training Day. And yes, Cinderella Man was underrated. Bieko made for a mean ass Max Baer.
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We need a movie about GEORGE SR. IS WHAT HE MEANT!
And I too liked Cinderella Man far more than Apollo 13 or A Beautiful Mind or any of those things. Lots of praise for Crowe, additional praise must go to Giamatti and Paddy Considine. -
For those of you unschooled (youngsters) who lack a little in social skills. These two subjects are a no no in topical conversation. It's good to remind the little ones.
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www.dictionary.com
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...was Cacoon.
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Totally agree, Howard is the most overrated director going. Splash is his best film if you ask me. Apollo 13 was cool (especially Ed Harris) but had too much flagwaving.
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I loved Cinderella Man. That is wasn't a bigger hit was sort of astonishing to me. Great perf by Crowe, but an even greater one by Giamatti.
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this tb makes me laugh. i can't wait to see the movie. don't worry guys, there'll be another super hero movie out this winter.
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I saw the interviews on PBS when I was 16. Man, if the movie has half as interesting as that...Well it was interesting, no idea how it can be a movie. I bet Nixon says, "It was all Bush's fault."
'nuff said. -
I was weird.
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Then again, necrophilia IS legal in California. So is handing out Academy Awards for taking liberties with American history.BTW, both Sheen and Langella have played vampires in their respective movie careers. Coincidence or Opie's attempt at ironic casting?
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Cygnus gets battered everytime he posts that. Good.
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Was probably the worst movie I've ever seen. Horrible. Like if there ever was a book that was unfilmable, its that one. Every other fucking page is a history lesson. But for the peopl involved with the movie, and it turned out so bad thats why its the worst movie I've ever seen. So boring.
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That blowjob while driving the car joke with Steve Martin and Mary Steenburgen was great and it's one of the few movies where you can say Keanu Reeves was perfectly cast for the character.
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