comment #1

Aris P says ...

Frost/Nixon is solid filmaking, albeit safe (like its director). It's well made, well-shot, well-acted, well-paced -- all good things -- but also predictable (the story beats, not the story per se), not much in the way of backstory, a little too comfortable with itself, and with a love interest angle that showcases a pretty face and nothing else. It's dependable and tasty, like your favorite affordable restaurant, but offers little in the surprise category... except Langella's incredible performance. It's the perfect film for voters over the age of 50.

comment #2

MikeSchaeferSF says ...

Frost/Nixon has "not much in the way of backstory" for whom? People who weren't alive in 1977 who've never read a history book? I'm not sure what that means in terms of a movie baed on actual events.

comment #3

actionman says ...

Dave Poland feels that there's "pushback" on a film when he doesn't like the film in question. Guy is delusional.

comment #4

TVMCCA says ...

Who exactly constitutes the alleged pushback against Doubt? Based on what lingering disappointments, exactly? Based on what unsatisfying element?

Saw a screening recently with my wife. I found DOUBT to be gripping and one of the year's best; she (as a lapsed Catholic) liked and understood the film but found it uninvolving.

comment #5

TVMCCA says ...

There is nothing but favoring wind right now for Slumdog Millionaire and Milk, it seems,

A theory of mine: perhaps certain elements of the Academy are feverish for "uplifting" films that have a chance at some mainstream crossover appeal--plus the possibliity of the 09 telecast's ratings to be at least a little higher than 08.

comment #6

Aris P says ...

As a play, you can start pretty much in media res. Not so sure about film though. I think I would have cared a lot more about this film had I been shown a bit more about Frost, his life, who he was, etc. That's all i meant by backstory. The same goes for the 3 others who were working for him, as well as Bacon's character come to think of it. Since we pretty much knew how this "story" would end, a little delving into some of what made these men tick would have added a little needed depth to the story, IMO.

comment #7

perceptions says ...

Actionman

Totally agree

Dave Poland feels that there's "pushback" on a film when he doesn't like the film in question. Guy is delusional.

comment #8

bmcintire says ...

Defamer has a bit to say about FROST/NIXON - and I would have to agree:

". . . nearly every non-interview scene in the film strikes the exact same beat: Frost's team of kooky researchers and producers are the underdogs! They'll never stand a chance against Nixon! Why, they'll never have careers again after, probably, because they are so damn underdoggy! This is hard to swallow each time it occurs (which is always), since this movie would, y'know, not exist if Frost boffed the interview."

Their takes on THE VISITOR and I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG are a bit too on-the-nose, but their defense of BOY A is commendable.

http://defamer.com/5100872/why-frostnixon-and-two-other-oscar-contenders-dont-measure-up

comment #9

Phatang! says ...

Yeah, Frost was a whole lot of transcript and not much in the way of involving drama. It was just a reenactment of a televised event. Big deal. (I also didn't find Langella's take ultimately interesting).

Button is all about box office -- if it's a hit, it wins. If not, maybe Milk.

I don't get Slumdog. It seemed very film school. A ridiculous device, nothing authentic about the characters (who are clearly too far removed from the filmmakers), and never a single moment when I felt any genuine tension.

comment #10

K. Bowen says ...

It would be nice if we could get "push forward" for Rachel Getting Married and The Wrestler.

comment #11

LauraReeling says ...

What a disappointing year as regards the 'front runners.'
Revolutionary Road's adaptation for screen frontloads the negatives without building a foundation first. Slumdog? Give me a break. I don't understand the Cannes reaction to Che - neither a masterpiece nor a disaster - a very good film, but not one that has me dancing in the aisles. I'm going back to the beginning of the year (In Bruge, The Visitor) and the underdogs (Synedoche - Yes! and Happy-Go-Lucky). Doubt was the most satisfying of the year end films I've seen.

comment #12

T. S. Idiot says ...

At this point in previous years, who was predicting CRASH and THE DEPARTED? We have no idea which film(s) will have momentum in Feb.

comment #13

K. Bowen says ...

The frontrunners are unusually weak this year, and many of them are being mentioned (and might get nominated) out of sheer inertia. They've been mentioned as contenders all year, and well, that makes them contenders.