Interviews With A Vampire
Blah … it has been so cold and so miserably rainy here in SoCal for the past few days that I am having a hard time wanting to peek my head out the door to get my mail, let alone venture out in public. I realize I’ve dealt with much, much worse when I lived in Michigan but the wonderful California weather has thinned my blood — considerably. But, I did manage to get out of the house last night and meet up with Jordan for a movie. We talked about catching a flick together sometime this week and decided to go see Frost/Nixon at the ArcLight in Hollywood:
To be honest, I am not at all familiar with the famed Frost/Nixon interviews that aired on TV back in the late 70’s but I have always been very intrigued by them. When I heard about the play, I really wanted to see it but timing never worked out. Now that the film has been made into a movie, it was finally time for me to learn more about the interviews. I had no idea that the interviews were broken up into four 90-minute segments … I imagine that made for riveting TV all week long. Now, about the movie … while I liked it very much and felt that the performances were pretty amazing, I found the whole thing a touch too overdramatic. Pretty much every single element of these interviews was dramatized to the point of folly. I mean, I can see the truth in the story but all the extraneous drama added to the tale for heightened effect felt too forced for me. I also felt they handled the faux “documentary” interviews pretty shoddily … it just wasn’t believable. I also question that phone call that was supposedly made to Frost by Nixon on the eve of their final interview. It makes for great drama but … not totally believable. I’m sure those conventions worked better on stage. That being said, I was wholly fascinated by the whole thing … I can only imagine what life would be like today if something as heinous as Nixon’s crimes occurred to today. The man did such a disservice to our country that it has always pained me that he was never held accountable for his crimes (Gerald Ford, arguably our second worst president ever made sure of that). I can see the satisfaction that some may have gotten from watching Nixon crumble on national television.
While I enjoyed the movie and was thoroughly entertained I am now very anxious to watch the actual Frost/Nixon interviews in full. Having seen the dramatic reenactment, I now want to see the real thing.
Tonight, Darion and I have been invited to a pretty cool event … it looks really cold and rainy outside again today … but this event is deffo worth venturing out for! Deets tomorrow!!!
Tags: 'Frost/Nixon'
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December 17th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Trent, do you know if the Frost/Nixon interviews are available somehwere accessible?? I vaguely recall a teacher mentioning them during high school history but thats about it. They sound fascinating though…thats an insanely long amount of interview time. The prep work for that must have been monumental on Frost’s part. I’m def going to look into this now! (but probs not so much the movie)
December 17th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
You gotta’ be kidding me. “I can only imagine what life would be like today if something as heinous as Nixon’s crimes occurred to today.” Have you not been paying attention the last eight years? This kind of stuff has been happening about once a month under Dubya. At least nobody died in Watergate.
December 17th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
I saw the stage version 2 months ago here in St. Louis (at the Repertory Theatre) and it was really good. I totally fell into the story line. If a professional stage production is put on near you I definitely recommend seeing it.
December 17th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
@Thomas — I was referring to a sitting president being removed from office and the ensuing media circus afterward. Trust me, I’m well aware that GWB was up to no good but, unfortch, got away with his actions.
December 17th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
I agree with Thomas up there, Trent, this administration has either matched or outdone the Nixon Administration with abuse of power, come on now! What do you even mean “I can only imagine…”!
December 17th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
yeah, i think i’m gunna check it out too – just cuz. i have nothing better to do over X-mas break =)
December 17th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Christine and Thomas — I triple that emotion.
By the way, hearsay knowledge of history (which most is, actually) makes for some astoundingly superficial pronouncements. Nixon was a far more complex man (and president) than simply “bad”.
Just sayin’.
December 18th, 2008 at 8:23 am
The film was a very accurate portrayal of the interviews actually. The acting was phenomenal.
December 18th, 2008 at 8:38 am
I thought Carter was the 2nd worst. I guess it’s all a matter of opinion.
December 18th, 2008 at 9:35 am
i think carter was the worst leader ever in world’s history and nixon one of our best!
December 18th, 2008 at 10:29 am
The real interview footage etc. was released a few weeks ago on DVD in support of the movie.