Frost/Nixon - 9 . Frank Langella gives my new favorite performance of 2008, largely because it’s such a deft impersonation of a President that those my age know so well. If you’re under 30, you may not be as impressed. He runs us up and down the sympathy pole and reveals magical insights into the ego of a man who dedicated his life to public service, yet was never appreciated – and in the end was vilified. Director Ron Howard seems to do his best recreating real events by layering on the drama and this recounting of the David Frost interview of Nixon and the back story is no exception. He revs up the action until we just can’t wait for the climax. Well worth seeing.
The Wrestler – 8. Mickey Rourke will probably win a best actor Oscar for his tour de force in which he tours and forces as a wrestler sliding down the rope of his career. This is at times a brutal movie, and the only punches it pulls are in the wrestling ring. Evan Rachel Wood adds to her resume as his alienated daughter. There’s some brute force in their scenes. Marisa Tomei is every bit Rourke’s equal in her best role since My Cousin Vinnie. She won’t win an Oscar for this role like she did for that one, but she’s wonderful as the stripper attracted to the wrestler but trying to keep her distance. I didn’t much care for the ending, which has generated a little controversy, but in fairness it’s the trip that’s fascinating here, not the destination.
Rachel Getting Married – 2. Anne Hathaway’s Oscar-nominated turn as the screwed up sister of the bride can’t save this Jonathan Demme mess of a picture. I give it a two for the few interesting scenes between her and Rosemarie DeWitt (who’s every bit as good), but other than that the movie is as excruciating as attending a real wedding. (Not yours of course.) I don’t know if it was the hand held camera that made me nauseous or the subject matter, but I never believed it for a minute. In fairness, let me point out that almost all other reviews have been raves. I don’t know what movie they were watching. In fact I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bigger disparity on one of my favorite web sites, metacritic.com between the critical acclaim and audience reaction. Critics praised it, and the viewers didn’t. I guess I just ain’t as sophisticated. If Demme was out to make us squirm and uncomfortable, he succeeds, but not the way he wanted. I’m a big Anne fan, so let me just say, check out Get Smart and at least have some fun watching her. "Bridal Wars" notwithstanding (which I have no plans to see because it's been panned so badly), I think she's going to be a huge star.
Taken – 8 I’ve never been much of a Liam Neeson fan, but here he brings some great anger to his role as the CIA retiree father of a kidnapped daughter who turns out to be the kidnapper’s worst nightmare – a father who’s both skilled and pissed. The theme here is basically “you fucked with the wrong American” as he chews through the Paris underworld leaving a body count that never seems to catch the attention of the police. Throw in some Bournish chase scenes and fights and you’ve got the picture, but it’s a well done ride that avoids the “blurry action” until the climactic fight scene. You’ve seen it all a million times, why not go see it again? This one is at least crisp and to the point.
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