ENGLISH - (N/A) - 30 April 2009 - DramaDistributor: Universal Pictures
Running time: about 122 mins.
Director: Ron Howard
Producers: Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner
Writers: Peter Morgan
Casts: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Kevin Bacon, Oliver Platt, Sam Rockwell
Plot: For three years after being forced out of office, U.S. President Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) remained silent. However in summer 1977, he agreed to sit for an interview to confront the questions about his time in office, especially the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency. Nixon surprised everyone by selecting David Frost (Michael Sheen) as his televised confessor, intending to outfox the British TV host and secure a place in the hearts and minds of Americans.
THE VERDICT:
Green Tea says:
You thought this is going to be boring with 2 grown-up peoples chatting and cross-examining each other in the one of the world's most watched interview in television history? The answer is both yes and no. But let us learn some history background regarding Richard Nixon. In early years of his presidency, US was involved in Vietnam war and his final years were tainted by the Watergate Scandal. President Nixon was the only president who had ever resigned from his post in the US history. Properly it would be best for you to read this first.
The reason I would say this is partly bored and not is because of the pace of the story. Boring if you consider yourself a knowing nothing about the background. The pace in the beginning was a bit slow and wordy to follow. Conversation is heavily political arm and maybe too deep. However, the pace normalize and began to pick up as things began to subtle once Frost asked the first question ad the mid-point of the movie.
Again, if you think this is just an interview involving 2 peoples, then you are wrong. It is more than that, involving a crash of two titans, whom one offensively searching for evidences while one furiously and strategically defending. It is a big strategy and mind game to play and indulged in. This big game seems to work well with many considered it among the best movie of the year. The screenplay was well delivered and intelligently worked its way out. Kudos to long-time pals of Ron Howard and Brian Grazer.
Michael Sheen whom we recently saw in Underworld played the interview master-mind of David Frost while Frank Langella imposing as President Nixon. Sam Rockwell took up the role of stern James Reston Jr, one of the man behind the passion to sort of humbling down Nixon. The actings were good and I was rather surprise to see Sheen not on the actor nominations for Oscar. The Oscar nomination for acting role was nevertheless still grabbed by the extra-ordinary performance by Frank Langella. Overall, their performances were powerful, intriguing and intense.
Although it would be less exciting for not mentioning that the art direction and cinematography were great as well. This would be a hard call if you ask if this will be the best picture in Oscar, since strong challenge from Slumdog Millionaire.
THE RATINGS.....
CAST - 4.0 stars
STORY - 4.0 stars
CINEMATOGRAPHY - 4.0 stars
EFFECTS - 4.0 stars
an overall >> 4.0 stars
GreenTea-O-Meter: 16.0