Frost/Nixon

Frost/Nixon, 3.5 out of 4 stars

Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) and David Frost (Michael Sheen) in "Frost/Nixon".

After the disappointment of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", here is another Academy Awards nominated historical drama based on the real interviews of David Frost and former President of United States, Richard Nixon. This film is directed by Ron Howard who brought you his masterpiece "Cinderella Man" in 2005. He also the one who direct "The Da Vinci Code" in 2006. The film begins with some reports and news about the Richard Nixon who involve in Watergate Scandal. I'm not gonna to tell you what it is because it is a sensitive issue and I myself also not really deep inside the story of Watergate Scandal. Then the film cut to the scene where Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) making his resignation speech. On the other side, David Frost (Michael Sheen), he is just finishing his talk show "Frost Over Australia". At the back stage, he's watching the television which shows Nixon is leaving the White House. So, he ask his producer to have a interview with Nixon. After Nixon accept the interviews, Frost hired two investigators Bob Zelnick (Oliver Platt) and James Reston Jr. (Sam Rockwell) to find some information mostly on Watergate Scandal. So, the climax of the film is the Frost/Nixon interviews. The interviews that place at the house of Frost's friends. The purposes of this interviews is to give Nixon the trial he never had. First of all, this is a great movie, as I say the climax of the film is the intervies so this film mostly focus on the Frost/Nixon interviews. And the director handle the plot progression very well. It doesn't feel bored or tedious. Besides that, the whole set is just simple but very absorbing. Other than that, the screenplay is amazing although some conversation is fiction. This movie doesn't need any character development. It just need a great screenplay to reflect the characteristics of the character and their mindset. And there is no good guy or bad guy in this movie. It is a very thoughtful film and I like it. Throughout the film, I enjoy every minutes of it, and the interviews between both of them is just thrilling and awesome. The acting is just top notch especially Michael Sheen and Frank Langella. They really understand the role of each real life character and bring it to the screen and they did it very well. Despite that, I really wish I give this movie a 4 stars rating, but I think this movie lack of some important imformation about the Watergate Scandal. It doesn't explain much about it. So, people who really have no idea about Watergate Scandal, they will not fully understand the whole movie. Overall, "This movie is very well crafted and exciting. Genuinely gripping."

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, 2.5 out of 4 stars

Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) and Daisy (Cate Blanchett) finally meet each other and they are falling in love in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button".

The 81st Academy Awards is over, and "Slumdog Millionaire" won 8 awards. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" just won 3 awards. I really have a high hope for this movie until yesterday. Do I like this movie? Yes, but I like this movie as much as I hate this movie. Is it a really nice movie? Yes it is, and of course there is a reason why I hate it. This movie is directed by David Fincher who brought you "Panic Room" in 2002 and "Zodiac" in 2007. I'm quite surprise that he is also the one who directed "Alien 3" in 1992. The story begins with a baby was born and his appearance are different from other child. He looks very old just like an old man. When the baby was born, the father quickly abandon the baby at the nursing home. Queenie (Taraji P. Henson) who work at the nursing home decide to take this baby as her son and named him Benjamin Button. When Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) was still a kid, he meets Daisy. Both of them always playing together and even Daisy's grandmother teach Benjamin how to play piano. Througout the story, Benjamin begins to grow younger and younger. The rest of the story is all about how he live his life and how he gets his first love, and the person he met when he is working at the tugboat. Then he also get caught in World War II, and how he survive it. Besides that, the story also explain to us how Benjamin meets Daisy (Cate Blanchett) and there is a love story between both of them. Yes, this movie has a great story. The story telling is amazing throughout the whole film. The plot progression is very well done and very smooth. When I watch this movie, I totally get caught in to the story. The good thing about this movie is it really shows the timeline that exactly when the World War II strike the whole world, and when the first America rocket was launch and others. Besides that, the acting is really good especially Cate Blanchett, she really shows the emotional part of her character in the movie, and she did it well. Other than that, the cinematography and the set design is very well done although I think "The Dark Knight" should win Best cinematography in the Academy Awards. This is why I like this movie. But before you have a further reading, first I have to tell you the next thing that I write will contain a small spoiler. Why I hate this film? I keep telling myself this is a great movie, it is very beautiful made movie. Until when I see the ending, I totally lose hope for this film. Why? Because the ending is not logic at all. It doesn't apply the "Logic" for the ending. Okay, I'll make it straight. People born as a baby and die as a person. We die when we're old and of course as we know Benjamin die when he looks younger. But, Benjamin born as a baby also, and how come he die as a baby? Human body cannot shrink until become a baby. This is impossible, and the whole concept is wrong. Yes, it is a fantasy movie, but for me it really leaps beyond fantasy barrier. And it is totally wrong!! I mean it! The ending is ruining the whole movie. Despite that, the whole movie only care about the story telling but it didn't care much about the character inside the story. I think I should stop by now. There will be a lot of people who like this film, but in the end it still depends on what you want or hope from this film. And let me tell you, there is no lesson to be learn from this film. Overall for this film, "This is a great drama with a great story telling but it leaps beyond the fantasy barrier and end up too unrealistic."