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Post by francesca on Oct 4, 2011 0:58:43 GMT
Saturday night was a F/N fest with an interview with Sir David, talking about the making of F/N programmes, then clips from the actual Nixon interviews. Then the film, with Michael Sheen and Frank Langella.
I was thoroughly engrossed . Superb television.
A point I would like to raise.
Towards the end of the interview when Nixon admits his culpability and remorse I felt that he was not really sorry perhaps only that he was caught . and that he was giving the nation a performance.
Whereas in the the film I felt he was shown to be a broken man.
I would be interested to know what anyone else thinks?
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Post by anglophile on Oct 4, 2011 1:08:03 GMT
it's impossible to know what is truly in any man's heart, of course, but Nixon did appear to be broken, with the remainder of his life lived pretty much in solitary fashion, compared to the presence he had enjoyed prrior to that. i realize more every day, too, that the media - and i include the news media - is in a prime position to manipulate what reaches the public. Nixon must have been very much aware of that, and since newspapers 'broke' the watergate story, i think the basic mistrust he had already indicated was certainly intensified. i was always amazed that he ever granted another interview, but perhaps he couldn't resist the opportunity to try to redeem his reputation. whether it was true or simply the thrust the media decided to give the story, the public was left with the impression that he never quite understood the hoopla surrounding watergate and never felt the public ire was justified. of course, compared to scandals we've been through since then, it seems rather tame in retrospect, but i'm not sure i want to get into a discussion of american politics. i do quite enough of that at work, but if you want to discuss some british faux pas related to westminster, i find them quite intriguing and will be glad to listen to some back and forth.
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Post by francesca on Oct 4, 2011 1:25:40 GMT
Anglophile, I wasn't wishing to discuss American politics or the right and wrongs of the occasion. Neither do I wish to discuss British politics
It was an invitation to discuss reality with fiction.
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Post by anglophile on Oct 4, 2011 3:27:54 GMT
Oops. Major apology, francesca. my response came out nothing like what i meant for it to be. was irritated at myself for letting my initial assessment begin to wander over into current politics and i was trying to get away from that. clearly, i should have reread. the whole thing was lame on my part and i am heartily embarrassed.
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Post by joyceinva on Oct 4, 2011 16:36:10 GMT
Frannie -
I think I read somewhere that while truth is stranger than fiction, fiction is so much better arranged! I think in the film they felt they HAD to portray Nixon as a broken man because they felt that the audience would expect it. That if you can't have redemption then you have to show that the main character didn't "get away with it."
I think that the only movies that work with the character "getting away with it" are caper movies where you are rooting for the bad guys all along - think the Ocean's movies - or when the "getting away with it" comes as a total shock to the audience. You think the bad guy got his and them - wham - the final scene shows the bad guy enjoying the ill-gotten gains.
I really miss the spoiler button - otherwise I'd name my favorite movie of the second type. PM me is you're interested.
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Post by anniem on Oct 4, 2011 16:50:47 GMT
I was lucky enough to see Frost/Nixon on stage. Superb acting by Michael Sheen, who became Frost as soon as he did the 'Good Evening and welcome' introduction, not the exacts words, but very Frost. The interview could also be seen on screens in the theatre so that it looked real. Loved the film too.
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Post by francesca on Oct 4, 2011 17:49:07 GMT
Anniem You were so lucky to see Michael Sheen.  it must have been incredible. Can't remember now but who played Nixon on stage? I love the theatre but with young children, it is such a major project to get up to London these days. Unfortunately the days of big stars in hit plays, touring the provinces, are well and truly over. Back to Mike Sheen :----- He came home to Port Talbot at Easter time to direct and act in the 'Miracle Plays' with the people of the town in the streets. The enthusiasm all round was amazing.I believe they are hoping to make the' Plays' an annual thing. Would be great if they could. |
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