Frost/Nixon

“That Jack Kennedy, he screwed anything that moved. He had a go at Checkers once, and that poor bitch was never the same after that.”

An Angry Approach Blocks the Formation of Anything Substantive

With all the award nominations Frost/Nixon is racking up, I was excited to finally see it, even leaving the peace of my neighbourhood to return to Williamsburg a few weeks early to see it. I was hopeful, but sometimes hope disappoints, and this is one of those cases.

Frost/Nixon narrates the events, in a mockumentary style, around David Frost’s interview with President Richard Nixon. And, although the name of the film mentions both David Frost and Richard Nixon, there was very little character development for Nixon. It should be automatically assumed, for all those seeing the film, that if you have anything less than the highest level of disgust for Nixon, you aren’t intellectually sound to see the film. The film shows David Frost as nothing short of a hero. I am obviously biased, as I actually have high regards for Richard Nixon; I believe he was a good president, and although I don’t like his involvement in Watergate, I think it’s time the nation gets over it, especially Ron Howard.

The obvious slant of the movie aside, and the inexcusable problem of trying to build a three dimensional film on one three-dimensional lead character and another one-dimensional lead character, I felt that the mockumentary aspect alongside a separate narrative was a very poor juxtaposition. I expected more from Ron Howard, and although good directors make mistakes, this one was just too obvious. Although I am clearly one of the few to call him out on this style, I feel like it has to be said – if it’s going to be a mockumentary, then make it a mockumentary. If you’re trying to combine a mockumentary and a narrative, you had better use a tone similar found in Drop Dead Gorgeous, because your film really shouldn’t be taken seriously, let alone expected to be taken serious.

Film aside, the acting was well done. Yes, it is possible to have a bad film with good acting. Frank Langhella deserves any future Oscar nomination that may come his way, although I have a feeling he will be outperformed, perhaps by Mickey Rourke. I am hoping that the SAG nomination for Best Ensemble truly is honouring the ensemble cast. They deserve it. The film itself deserves none of it.

I found the film to be unsuccessful, and I find it hard to believe that people actually feel like this film is compelling enough to call it ‘Best’ or ‘Outstanding’. Ron Howard sometimes really acts like an angry old red head, and sometimes his rage pours out onto poor horse’s hooves. Sorry Ron, but I give it a D+.