Frosted Nixon

There are three reasons right off the bat why I would like the new Ron Howard-directed film "Frost/Nixon." First, there's virtually no CGI. Second, there's no role for the criminally overused and undertalented Seth Rogan. Third, there was no way for the grossly overrated and utterly annoying Samuel L. Jackson to worm his way into another movie. Kudos to the filmmakers here for resisting the temptation to rewrite history and depict TV host David Frost as a Black man.

"Frost/Nixon" is probably the best and smartest movie that I have seen in 2008. It should clean up with Oscar gold and also remind liberal-infested Hollywood that it is possible to make a political movie without bashing a Republican. "W" director Oliver Stone needs to see "Frost/Nixon" for that very reason. And then offer to clean Ron Howard's toilet bowl for the next year.

When you think about acting tour de forces, you should remember what Michael Sheen and Frank Langella did in this movie. Langella is so amazingly good and non-cartoonish as Richard Nixon that he most certainly will win the next Best Actor Oscar. In fact, he's so believable as Nixon I wouldn't be surprised if somebody tried to serve with a subpoena for those 18 minutes of tapes.

I remember very little about these David Frost interviews when they first aired. I was probably too pre-occupied with watching Happy Days or Valerie Bertinelli. I do remember that David Frost's syndicated TV shows in the early 70s created a nasty bi-polar viewing pattern in my house. When Frost first replaced Merv Griffin's nightly show on Channel 5 in NY, my mother loved the guy. She couldn't get enough of him and thought he was adorable. Downstairs, my grandmother desperately missed Griffin and his sidekick, Arthur Treacher. As a result, she couldn't stand that "limey" who took Merv's place. As for me, Frost was a blur.

But, after seeing "Frost/Nixon," I totally understand the drama that existed as Frost attempted to show his mettle as a TV interviewer by hoping to get Nixon to admit his Watergate guilt to the entire nation. Indeed, both of these very public figures are incredibly damaged and director Howard does an amazing job of conveying their angst. What must have been a very static and talking head play on Broadway is opened up to incredible vistas on the big screen by the director. In what has been a formidible career so far, Ron Howard scores his best work here with "Frost/Nixon" and should be Oscar-bound himself.

There was one odd scene and quirk when I saw "Frost/Nixon" last Saturday night. In one scene, David Frost is shown attending the premiere of "The Slipper and the Rose" at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. Of course, as I was watching this scene, I myself was sitting in the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. Most of the audience applauded this bizarre coincidence. Only in Hollywood.

Put "Frost/Nixon" on your holiday viewing list. And expect to see it come around again after some big wins on Oscar night. Unless, of course, there's a last minute surge for "Tranformers 3," Seth Rogan in "Zach and Miri Make a Porno," or Samuel L. Jackson's work in "Lakeview Terrace."

Dinner last night: Grilled chicken teriyaki.