Frost/Nixon ****

Frost/Nixon ****
Cast: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Kevin Bacon, Matthew Mcfadyen, Sam Rockwell, Oliver Platt, Rebecca Hall
Director: Ron Howard
Running Length: 2:02
MPAA Classification: R

For three years after his resignation from the presidency, Richard Nixon (Langella) remained in seclusion in California. He made no appearances, he gave no interviews. Then, a British talk-show host named David Frost (Sheen) offered him $500,000 for a series of interviews. They would cover Domestic Policy, foreign policy, “Nixon the man,” and Watergate. Nixon accepted the deal, figuring he would get a series of easy questions, but Frost was going for something more. Assisted by three allies: John Burt (McFadyen), James Reston Jr. (Rockwell), and Bob Zelnick (Platt), he mounted interview sessions determined to get Nixon to admit he was wrong and committed crimes.

“Frost/Nixon” is a thoroughly engrossing movie, despite the ending being known. Langella and Sheen are great in their respective roles. The story is edge of your seat viewing. Director Ron Howard spends about half the movie reenacting excerpts from the actual interviews, and they are engaging showing a duel of wits where only one can be the winner. I highly recommend this entertaining and engaging film.

Martian Child **1/2Cast: John Cusack, Bobby Coleman, Amanda Peet, Sophie Okonedo, Joan Cusack, Oliver Platt
Director: Menno Meyjes
Running Length: 1:48
MPAA Classification: PG

David (John Cusack) has never really gotten used to his wife’s death. Years later he is considering adopting a child despite his sister Liz’s (Joan Cusack) advice. His friend Sophie (Okonedo) has the perfect child for him. Dennis (Coleman) is a child who believes he is from Mars. He hides in a box during the day because the sun bothers him. He wears a “gravity belt” to keep him from floating away. Once home, David finds that it is more difficult than expected to connect with Dennis. In these tough times, doctors from the orphanage are checking in on things, and David realizes he must make a breakthrough if he wants to keep Dennis.

While “Martian Child” is a fictionalized account of author David Gerrold’s adoption of a child, one can’t help but hope that there were less sappy moments in real life. “Martian Child” is full of them, just begging the audience to shed a tear at the characters’ plight. Cusack does his usual best with what he is given here, but the script hinders him more than usual here. Sure there is a nice story here, but it seems to be buried under a layer or two of sap. This was not a bad movie, but it definitely wasn’t my thing. I recommend this to those who enjoy tear –jerker type films.