Zooey, Blagojevich, and X-Men, OH MY!

Film.com has put together a little photo gallery of one my favorite actresses/singer, Zooey Deschanel. It's kind of hard not to like her, she's just so adorable! The gallery gave me a chance to look over some of her amazing fashion choices, and some of her more questionable ones. If indie had a spokesperson, she'd probably be it.

Despite the rise of Chicago's golden boy, lately the city's been looking more corrupt than ever. Oh Rod Blagojevich... tisk tisk! Did you really think no was going to find out? Your hair can't hide all your secrets. You would have made a great host for "Lets Make a Deal."

David Denby gives his take on Revolutionary Road (btw, my review of it will be up soon!), Gran Torino, and The Class. As per usual, he makes some great points. "Winslet had played American women without straining, but this time she enunciates with laborious precision-you can see her propelling vowels and consonants like smoke rings." Denby proves again why he's one of the best critics in the biz.

And now, for a little trailer catch-up!

Ché - I can't tell you yet whether it looks epicly brilliant, or long and worn out. Benicio Del Toro in the lead seems like a perfect fit, but I'm afraid he might ultimately come off as too course. I think back on Gael Garcia Bernal, who played young Ché in The Motorcycle Diaries, and almost wish they'd brought him back to reprise the role. But I guess he doesn't look old enough to play the part. The trailer does move me to want to see the film, but they are dividing it into two parts... Not since Kill Bill has such a risk been taken. Will it pay off? The trailer makes me think, yes.

What Doesn't Kill You - Dear movie producers, please stop making movies about South Boston. Thank you.

Monsters Vs. Aliens - This looks like the best thing to come out of Dreamwork's Pixar stealing labs (sorry, that was harsh) since Shrek... oh wait, I hated Shrek. Well, in any event, this looks way better and considerably funnier. With a great cast of voices (Seth Rogen, Reese Witherspoon, Rainn WIlson, Stephen Colbert, Will Arnett, etc.) this is one animated feature that looks like it will give us what we want. For the record, I loved Shrek 2.  

Star Trek - I don't think I'm the only one who's really excited about Heroes' Sylar (aka Zachary Quinto) following in the great Leonard Nimoy's footsteps and taking up the reigns of Spock. He couldn't look more the part if he tried (even without make-up). Is it weird that I have a little bit of a crush on him? I thought so... From the trailer, the film looks like it will cover a "Star Trek: The Early Years" story line and be heavily action oriented. Not sure how Chris Pine will fair as Captain Kirk, I think Chris Evans might actually have been a better choice (did you see Sunshine?). The cast has a few other big names; Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz), Eric Bana (Troy), and John Cho (Harold and Kumar). All put together, I think they may end up with Star Trek meets Animal House. 

Nothing but the Truth - I have a hunch that Nothing but the Truth will be this year's Michael Clayton, only with less acclaim. From what I gather, Kate Beckinsale finally nabbed a role where she can actually do some real acting. Anymore of this Underworld crap and she'll end up on "Where are they now?." The story centers on a reporter who faces a possible jail sentence for outing a CIA agent and refusing to reveal her source. Vera Farminga stars as said agent and I've been hoping to see more of her since The Departed. Here's wishing you luck Kate on your foray into real film!

X-Men Origins: Wolverine - Considering the level of flop-dom that X-Men 3 ended up achieving, some might wonder why they even bothered making a prequel (it's not like we're dealing with Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit here...). The answer for making it, is money (did you know they're making a Sex and the City 2? God help us). Even though X-Men 3 went down as the worst in the trilogy, it still made a ton of cash, and now producers are hoping to do it again. This time though, they are focusing on a simpler story and one character. Even though the star will be Wolverine, we'll get a chance to see some new heroes and villains. Taylor Kitsch of Friday Night Lights fame will play Gambit, Ryan Reynolds will play Deadpool and Dominic Monaghan will take on Beak. We'll also get a chance to Liev Schreiber (also in Defiance) as Sabretooth, and interesting casting choice in the sense that I wouldn't have picked him but I think he could be great. The trailer is well edited, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't really excited to see Riggins as Gambit, but I'm gonna head into this one with low expectations. Hopefully it will overcome them.

Fanboys - Those of the Apatow crew that aren't in Adventureland (see below), you can probably find in Fanboys. The basic plot is that a group of good friends get together to achieve the impossible; successfully break in George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch. Can they do it? I don't think anyone really cares, cause with the cast of guest stars they've racked up no one will be focusing on the plot. It looks like it could have moments of comedic promise, but I think this one will probably be hit or miss, leaning towards miss.  

 

Gomorrah - Based on the tell-all book that caused it's author to go into hiding, Gomorra is a tale of Italy's mafia. Critics are already comparing it to The Godfather but I don't know if I'd go that far based on what I've seen. I think this is one of those movies that most people won't get a chance to see, but may just end up blowing those that do away (literally).

Adventureland - Superbad director, Greg Mottola, returns with Apatow cast in tow to bring us Adventureland. But this time, he wrote the movie himself, perhaps based on his own experiences spending a summer working at an amusement park... The story takes place in 1987, when a motley crew, run by two off-their-rocker bosses (Bill Hader and Kristin Wiig), find ways to slack on the job. It looks pretty predictable, and I'm sure it won't be the next Superbad (it's too soon for that anyway), but with Ryan Reynolds, Martin Starr, Jesse Eisenberg, Hader and Wiig, it may make us laugh so hard we don't care. Here's hoping it's better than the trailer lets on. Oh, and Kristin Stewart returns to play the pretty intellectual girl once again.

Terminator Salvation - CHRISTIAN BALE! Man I love this guy, he can do anything! He can play a newsboy who bursts into song, a piano playing victorian in love with a tomboy, an anorexic machinist, even Batman! But, can he play John Connor? The answer is, of course he can. In fact a simple "duh" would probably suffice. In the fourth, and hopefully last, installment of the Terminator saga, John is still fighting that damn Skynet and trying to figure out who to trust. In the trailer, you can hear Bale's Batman voice kick in as his says "I don't know if we can win this war." Please let the answer be yes, and give us the Star Wars ending we so desperately need. They killed his mother and his father, and now it's time for John to finally have something go his way. CGI looks promising as do the performances (at least by action flic standards).

9 - Brought to you by creep king Tim Burton, but directed and written by newcomer Shane Acker, 9  looks like an animated cross between Corpse Bride and this year's Coraline. Even though I adore Tim Burton and his zany world, this does not look very promising so far. But, watch the trailer and maybe you'll find something in it I didn't.  

That's all for now. I'm still working on my t.v. segment and my Revolutionary Road review will be up soon. I hope everyone's Christmas shopping is coming to a end!

Movie Review: Button? Button? Who's got the Power Button?

As someone very wise said to me, "It's this year's Pearl Harbor." The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ended up trying very hard in many ways, but not in the ways that counted. Not only does the film lack passion between it's two leads, but passion of any kind (memories of Music and Lyrics come to mind). At the end of 160 minutes of film, I was left baffled by how David Fincher can come out out a film like Fight Club, and then do something like this. Hollywood King Brad Pitt gives no life to the character of Benjamin. He may be good looking, but that's far from what's needed to carry the weight of a nearly 3 hour film. It seemed as if because the premise of the story was already so interesting, Pitt felt he didn't even have to try and put more effort into the character. Well Brad, congrats, you took what could have been a very interesting story and made it dull. Sadly, Cate Blanchett (one my favs) is guilty of the same thing with Daisy. Being a dancer does not automatically make you an scintillating individual. The film may be a fantasy in many respects, but the characters are still supposed to be based in reality. They needed soul, buckets of it, if possible. They were given every opportunity to show heart, but at each turn, played it flat and predictable. There were moments when Pitt as Benjamin could have lashed out and lost his cool, or even showed a little bit of vulnerability, but instead he chose to play him as an even tempered, lifeless individual. I just couldn't care about these people, when they didn't seem to care enough themselves. If you want to give the film props for technical achievement, go right ahead, but you can find better emotional performances on Gossip Girl, and that's saying a lot.

During an interview with ET, Blanchett spoke of her early concern for getting involved with a movie whose themes could easily become relegated to cliché, but decided to move forward when she found out David Fincher would be directing. "Knowing that David Fincher was going to look at it, I mean, the man doesn't have a sentimental bone in his body. FIncher talking about love, Fincher talking about longing and yearning, hope and possibility, birth and death, then I think you're in for an interesting ride." That's certainly what you would hope and expect from the man who gave us Se7en, Fight Club and Zodiac, but Fincher fell prey to tech giddiness. He neglected focusing on the potential personality and verve of these characters. Why should I invest time in them? Just because they existed? That's just not enough. Blanchett went on to say, "What I really admire about what Fincher's done with the film, is that I think in lesser hands, people would have gone to town with the technology, and often people make films like this to experiment with technology. But he was in complete control. It's got a lot of heart". Wrong again Cate. And what's worse, the rest of the interview is spent with Pitt and Blanchett cooing about the incredible leaps in technology...

The simple sum-up of Benjamin's plot is that it's a man's life story in reverse (think Forrest Gump if he was born at the end and ended at the beginning). I'm sure that plenty of people will come out of Benjamin Button with a contrary opinion to mine. When all is said and done, it's still cool to see Brad Pitt get younger. You get a chance to see him return to his Thelma and Louise days, and damn, he was cute wasn't he... Although overlooked in the trailers, you're also treated to a much younger Cate Blanchett, who looks so much like a life-size porcelain doll, you're surprised she doesn't shatter at Benjamin's touch. There are a couple of cute montage scenes between Benjamin and Daisy, and some fun scenes of Benjamin globetrotting, that gave me hope the movie might start to move in a different direction, but no. They are beautiful people, going to beautiful places, and even that wasn't strong enough to hold my interest (it's far from Marie Antoinette). Taraji P. Henson gives a fairly memorable performance as Queenie, Benjamin's adopted mother, and ends up being one of the few to try and bring some soul to her part. The character does unfortunately fall more into stereotypical territory, thereby endearing typical reactions from audiences. But, she does have some verve. More than anyone else, Tilda Swinton leaves an impression. She plays a very important role in Benjamin's life, but unfortunately her role in the film is short lived. She actually had a personality, and I only wish it could have been developed more.

Since the film is almost 3 hours long, the assumption would be that everything you see of Benjamin's life is critical to understanding him as a character or furthering the plot, but in this case it's more an assemblage of dreamy, jumbled sequences leading nowhere. It's not the first time this has happened, and I'm sure it won't be the last. Fincher, please go back to doing what you do best; getting inside the heads of real men and women. Long Hollywood epics about pretty people just isn't your thing.

Short and Sweet

For a film that supposedly addresses life's "big issues," it falls short in too many ways. I would have enjoyed seeing a youthful Brad Pitt had he put some heart into Benjamin. Blanchett uses her standard American Katharine Hepburn voice to bend Benjamin's ear, but it doesn't have the payoff that it did in The Aviator. "They look SO young!" you'll gasp, but is that enough to warrant a nomination? Technically, it accomplishes some new things, but that's also not enough to carry the film but Ultimately Benjamin Button is another over-hyped cog in the Hollywood machine, leaving me to revisit the trailer and wonder "what happened?" If you're a Fincher fan, be prepared that this film doesn't hold up against his previous ones, and is done in a completely different style than you're accustomed to. I wish it would have been better, I really do, but in this instance, the blockbuster just didn't deliver. The middle rating is really more for the technical wow factor than anything else.

Fav Quotes

"They said I was gonna die soon, but, maybe not..." - Benjamin Button

"Did I ever tell you I was hit by lightning seven times?" - Mr. Daws


Happy Chanukah Everyone!

"What are you doing here?"

It's impossible not to admire his style. It's just too purple to ignore. Reviews of Milk and Adam Resurrected are soon to come, and this week I'm seeing a preview screening of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, so that review will be on it's way too. Here's a few weird, fun, gay things.  

• If you're in the mood to spend approximately 48 hours watching a gay love saga on a British soap opera, than look no further! John Paul and Craig This is part 1 of 54, all of which are posted on youtube. It's epic in every sense of the word. They say fabulous things like "What are you doing here?" and "I'm not your bit on the side!" Every time a door closes, someone gets laid... it's that amazing.

• Despite my self-professed love of all things Twilight, I feel it's always important to showcase other opinions. So here is EW's Twilight: A Hater's Guide. View it if you must...
  

• BIG NEWS! Netflix is finally offering instant watch for Mac users!!! Lord knows it took them long enough... Watch anything from Mommie Dearest to 30 Rock! 
  

• By now, it's pretty evident that it has been a weak year for film. We have a few winners coming out now (maybe), but overall the year has been lacking in real jaw-dropping cinema. Film.com begs the question, was this the worst movie year ever? You decide.
  

• The Golden Globe nominations just came out, and there's a few big upsets. First off, no best picture drama nomination for Milk? I loved Frost/Nixon, but c'mon, I think Milk deserved a spot. In best supporting actor category, Emile Hirsch really deserved a nod  for his role in Milk. He was incredible and completely snubbed. Also, did anyone else notice that 4 out of the 5 nominated films haven't even been released yet? The comedy best picture nominees are a joke from start to finish. No matter how much fun Mamma Mia was (and it really was),  it's madness to honor it with any kind of award (other than an MTV one). Also, when a movie like Wall-E comes along, I would love to see it leap out of an animation category and compete in the "real" races. I think if a movie's really good enough, it shouldn't be banished to the doldrums. But the Golden Globes may be the worst of the awards, so heres hoping the Oscars and the SAG awards are better. And did 'ya hear? Hugh Jackman is hosting the Academy Awards this year! Please let him sing, dance and wear tight pants! Finally, Allah willing, next year in Jerusalem (aka give us better movies!). 
  

• Last, but definitely not least, is a video most people have seen by now, but still had to share, The Prop 8 Musical. Better late than never I guess...
  

And this is just scary as hell and needed to be remembered. Also coming soon, my television catch-up session. Get the DL on what shows need watching! 

Movie Review: Who wants to win a Miracle?

Jamal is a boy, who becomes a man, who becomes a millionaire, but that's all just strange fodder along the journey back to his heart. Slumdog Millionaire pulsates over its audience like a bullet train on speed, exposing you to extreme poverty, ruthless violence, and corruption. But if this was all the film offered, it wouldn't be a Danny Boyle flick. In true Boyle fashion, the heart of the film lies in the chest of his lead. At only six years old, Jamal Malik falls eternally in love with Latika, a fellow street rat born into the slums of Mumbai. As Boyle's camera pans out, you behold endless miles of tin can roofs and the surrounding landfills of garbage so high, you'd think you were watching Wall-E. How did Jamal get from there to becoming a contestant on India's Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Well if I told you, there wouldn't be much point in seeing the movie now would there? But, I can say that what keeps Jamal and the film alive, is love. It's not as cheesy as it sounds, I swear.

I went into Slumdog expecting a classic Danny Boyle movie, which is in part what you get, but you can also feel Boyle's desperate need to make a more emotional connection with the audience. His previous films have focused on anything from heroine addicts in Scotland to the last people in London fighting a zombie army, to a space mission trying to save the world. There are Boyle-addicts out there who think everything he touches turns to gold, and then there are people who cherry pick amongst his films to find the ones they love the most (notice I didn't mention the people who don't like his films at all, because I don't know any). With Slumdog you get your typical fast-paced camera work, glowing colors, and standard Boyle aura, but you can see just how much he wants and needs you to love these characters. For some, this feeling might come off as so severe, that it's off-putting. I personally, am a sucker for an emotional life struggle and was right there with them the whole time. In order to love the film, you have to love their battle, and if you don't, than the whole thing falls apart. For all the Rudy fans out there, this may very well be a movie for you.

We see the characters age from young children, to adolescents, and finally into young adults throughout the film. This must have made for a challenging casting job. You would need three equally charming, lovable, and talented kids to play the leads, each for about a quarter of the film. My typical reaction to child actors is that it always feels unnatural. They typically seem over prepared, overly made-up and completely simulated. I was pleasantly surprised that each actor and actress in Slumdog was a real kid. These children were legitimately natural (or else really, really excellent actors). This it why watching them could be viscerally hard at times. You witness electrocution, beatings, simulated drowning, and even blinding. They get under your skin. You watch Jamal and his brother Salim grow up into young men, and even though it happens right before your eyes, you're still unsure how they could have possibly survived that long. If you're watching this film in an artsy theater in Westchester (like I was), you're so far removed from their problems, that you almost feel guilty ingesting one more piece of butter drenched popcorn. While Boyle certainly took every opportunity to call your attention to the horrors that can occur in other parts of the globe, I doubt his ultimate goal was to make his audience feel like crap. His challenge was to show that anyone, despite the life they're given, can find a way to happiness. More often than not, that happiness comes from loving something bigger than yourself. This could be from finding religion, finding your calling, or in Jamal's case, finding the girl of his dreams. She was worth everything, and until he could find her again, everything else (even 20 million rupees), was worthless.

Dev Patel, who plays Jamal in his last incarnation, might be best known to those who watch BBC's Skins, as Anwar. In Skins he played a primarily comedic part, and I wouldn't have necessarily counted him among the show's standout actors (mainly because every actor in the show is destined for stardom). I was skeptical of what he could really bring to Slumdog, but he played Jamal with so much restraint and subtlety, that I felt like I was getting to know him as an actor for the first time. His performance, most notably in some breathtaking scenes with Latika, is incredible and perfectly suited to the film. Freida Pinto, who plays the oldest version of Latika, is stunning from the moment she steps onscreen. This is the first film credit to her name, and I have no doubt of her future success. She really is the most beautiful person most people have ever seen, and certainly worth fighting for. Her undeniable out-of-this-world looks do not lessen her ability to show humility though. When she smiles onscreen, you really get the feeling that this girl doesn't know how gorgeous she is. The two of them together captivate audiences and make even the biggest skeptics beg for more. Cheers to Danny Boyle, a British director, for creating what will become a classic Indian love story. The other characters do an amazing job of supporting the two leads. Everyone felt very suited to their part, most importantly Salim, who accomplished making you both hate and love him over and over again.

Short and Sweet

Apart from Rachel Getting Married, this is one of the best films I have seen this year, so far. There was so much to take in for one sitting, that it definitely has high re-watch value. You get an epic cultural introduction, heartbreaking individual performances, and beautiful filmmaking all rolled into one love story. Be prepared that it's a lot to handle for two hours, but I consider it a must see. Congrats to Boyle for the Best Picture Drama and Best Director Golden Globe noms. And make sure you stay through the end credits to watch some amazing Bollywood dancing!

Fav Quotes

"You're not going to get the next one."

Movie Review: Drink Up

I loved Emile Hirsch in Milk. This may not be a traditional way to start a review about a film starring Sean Penn, but despite excellent performances elicited from Penn and good ones from James Franco and Josh Brolin, I loved Hirsch the best. Of course, I love Emile in almost everything, and have made it a life-goal to become the next Mrs. Hirsch, but please, don't let that color my review. From his mop of curly brown hair, to his coke bottle glasses, I adored seeing Emile go gay. Now, that I've gotten my praise for Hirsch out of the way, lets get down to brass tacks. Sean Penn's done it again. He literally becomes Harvey Milk, assassinated gay rights activist, from head to toe. If I had to pick one actor in Hollywood who is a true chameleon, it would have to be Penn, hands down. We've seen him play everything from a grief-stricken mafia boss, to a mentally challenged single father, and even a pizza-loving surfer dude. As Harvey, Penn gives a much more joyful performance than I have seen him do in a long time. His last few characters (21 Grams and Mystic River) have been solemn men with hard exteriors, but in Milk, he glides over the audience like a cool, refreshing beverage. You drink up Milk, but before you say "can I have some more please," the joyful presence that lights up the screen, is extinguished. Penn is able to showcase different sides to Harvey throughout the film. You can see him flamboyantly emerging in San Francisco gay culture, but also retreating to his kitchen, contemplating thoughts of his own assassination. Some may find themselves feeling more attached to the character of Milk than others, but I think it would be difficult for anyone to not feel emotional at his tragic death. 

A big reason Milk resonates so much with audiences is the reality which the characters are based in. I don't mean that they're just based on real people, but that the performances feel relatively un-jaded by film. These are people you know, minus the seventies clothing. The fight they fought then, is one we're still fighting now. With the recent voting of Prop 8, it appears that little has changed from Harvey's "recruiting" days to now. Gay people may be entitled to privacy regarding their orientation in relation to their jobs or health care, but they're still not allowed the same rights I have as a heterosexual. Who knows how much the film will ultimately do in changing anyone's perspective, but it does reiterate the importance of never giving up on the issues that matter. I can only hope that the people who most need to see the film, will, but my skeptical side thinks probably not. Beyond its political message, Milk is also a love story. It's about the love affair that people had with Harvey, and how that enabled him to have short-lived, yet successful, effect on real lives. He saved people, and all of it might never have happened if not for a chance meeting with a handsome boy named Scott.

Scott is played by James Franco, and while it's nice to see Franco show us yet another side to himself, I wouldn't say he stands out in this film (for a better example of Franco's versatility see Pineapple Express). However, I can see why Gus Van Sant cast him. He's a likable, good looking guy, who emanates real warmth throughout the entire movie. You can appreciate the relationship he develops with Harvey, but it never quite sweeps you off your feet. As an alternative to the warmth shown by Franco, Josh Brolin plays his cards close to the vest. It's been a good couple of years for Brolin, hitting the big time with No Country for Old Men, and recently starring in Oliver Stone's W. As San Francisco City Supervisor, he keeps you at a distance, but lets you in just enough to know he'll explode any minute. Again, Brolin's performance fits in the film, but was not a particular stand out. Side bar characters played by Alison Pill and Diego Luna end up generating more original and memorable performances, even if featured in only a handful of scenes. Lesser known Jospeh Cross is also great, as well as Denis O'Hare, who plays Senator John Briggs (aka devil spawn of Anita Bryant).  

With Milk representing Van Sant's return to mainstream cinema, I wondered how indie it would end up feeling. The man has already proved himself capable of helming a bigger budget production, but the last few years he's spent doing films like Elephant and Last Days (both disturbing and unbelievably quiet), so I had to wonder if he would turn Milk into a dramatically paced 24 hours leading up to the murder. Luckily, Van Sant revisited his roots, and gave us a joyous yet still calamitous retelling of a man's life, who deserves to be remembered. Milk draws you in to a world of the past, but frequently reminds you that history has a way of repeating itself. 

Short and Sweet

Larger than life man collides with gay rights movement, and suddenly what was happening on Castro Street exploded over the rest of the country. The end of his story is not the reason worth telling it. Harvey Milk's life makes for a great story because of the people that surrounded him, and the things that he accomplished while still alive. He was inspiration for so many from the past, and maybe this movie can help him become an inspiration for people now. Sean Penn once again lights up the screen along with protege Emile Hirsch. See the film and experience warmth and heart that radiates from the entire cast (except Josh Brolin). 

Fav Quotes

"Can two men reproduce?"   

"No, but God knows we keep trying."  - Dan White and Harvey Milk

"Are you on uppers or something?"

"No, this is just plain old me."  - Scott Smith and Harvey Milk

Movie Review: Clash of the broken-down Titans

"I told you it was 'gotcha' journalism," laughed Ron Howard after effectively being called out by the Jacob Burns' own Steve Apkon. Apkon had just shown a clip of Howard as Opie (The Andy Griffith Show), desperately trying to get his 'pa to listen to some phone conversations he had taped. "I don't even remember doing that scene," said Howard, "but now we know what political party Opie was headed for." The clip was both timely and fitting given that it followed a screening of Howard's newest film, Frost/Nixon. The film centers on a dramatic retelling of the David Frost/Richard Nixon interviews of 1977. Prior to seeing this film, I wasn't aware that these tapes even existed, but now they are everywhere. The historic interviews were then turned into the groundbreaking play, written by Peter Morgan. The title roles were originated by actors Michael Sheen and Frank Langella on stage,  and now they are the stars of the film. Both men come barreling onto the screen in their own way. While Sheen does it with a glittering smile and mesmerizing blue eyes, Langella does it with a shaky fist and booming, era-appropriate voice. Whether you went into the film with this intention or not, you fall in love with both the leads as they march over you with their insecurities. Howard was so aptly able to catch moments of true fragility from both actors, that the simple story became a heartbreaking boxing match. 

The film is beautifully shot and carefully crafted by an artisan who's spent his entire life in the business of film. I've been impressed with Howard before, but Frost/Nixon is an accomplishment by him that people haven't seen before. After the screening, he spoke a lot about how the most gripping moment of the real life Frost/Nixon interviews was a close-up shot of Nixon as he gave into Frost's bantering and apologized to the American people for a terrible mistake. It was this one moment within 30 hours of tape, that changed political history forever. It is the crux of the film. As Langella stares blankly past the camera, you can feel he's been beaten down to nothing, and by a British talk show host at that. You are witnessing the lowest moment of a man's life. It may seem easy, but capturing that on film is anything but. This intimate moment didn't end up feeling like a cheap imitation of the real thing (as I had worried), but instead takes on a life of it's own. 

Frank Langella was not most people's first choice for the film role of Nixon, despite his critically acclaimed performance in the stage play. He and Howard have both spoken frankly, that at a certain point, he seemed almost out of the running entirely. He doesn't look like Nixon for starters, but as he channel's the character, you find yourself believing in him with ease. "I told him that he may not have been high on the studio's list, but he was at the top of mine," said Howard. The director got his way and brought Langella along for the ride. The Queen's Michael Sheen was a perfect fit for the part of David Frost from the start (and he actually did look like the real person). I was a bit skeptical of his performance at first, but Sheen breaks your heart onscreen, both when he smiles and when he completely gives up. There is something so intense about the expressiveness of his face, you feel hypnotized. I actually couldn't say whether Sheen is a gifted actor, or just gifted facially. Either way, his performance as David Frost is memorable (or maybe I'm just under his spell). 

The film has a lot to offer its audience. You are able to delve head first into these rich, meaty characters during the most important time in their lives (whether they knew it or not). Both actors were able to sidestep becoming caricatures, which can often be the downfall of a film based on real life people. As the verbal battle ensues between them, both men fight with all they've got. At a certain point, you don't know who you're rooting for anymore (another cinematic accomplishment by Howard). Frost and Nixon may be the headliners, but they are a part of an all star cast. Kevin Bacon, Sam Rockwell, Matthew Macfayden, and Oliver Platt are able to shine, despite what could have easily an been overshadowing presence by the leads. Rockwell in particular does a superb job in finding the humor and nailing it.

I plucked up the courage to ask Howard a question of my own. "Your portrayal of Nixon's Chief of Staff, played by Kevin Bacon, is that he was loyal till the end, and that he felt a deep love for Nixon. From your interviews with Nixon's real staff, was this really the case?" It may not have been the best question of the night, but it was one I really wanted to know the answer to. Howard responded that whatever else they may ultimately feel about Nixon and his choices, one thing is abundantly clear; anyone who worked with him has an unwavering respect for the man. This feeling of reverence resonates strongly throughout the film. Howard spoke of how he felt betrayed by the man he once voted for. However, the film tells a different story. A deeply flawed man tried to make people love him, but failed miserably. But he tried, and as simple as that is, I think it's the whole point. 

Short and Sweet

Beautiful character film about two men who fight with all their might to come out on top. The cast hits all the right notes as a whole and compliment each other. This is a definite must-see, but seeing it in theaters is not critical, so maybe save your $10.75 and wait to Netflix it. 

There's a lot that happened in the Q&A, but I don't want the review to be longer than it is already, so feel free to email me if you want to know more about Howard's discussion of the film. Sorry it took so long to get this up! Reviews of Milk, Slumdog Millionaire and Adam Resurrected coming soon!