Frost/Nixon (post-Bush cinema)

‘Milk’ is not the only recent film that is forming a wave of post-Bush American cinema, in many ways Ron Howard’s account of the interviews between David Frost and Former US President Richard Nixon speaks of George Bush’s failures, Howard constructs his film as if it were a boxing film, two titans preparing for their battle, a series of rounds where they exchange blows and a final knock out, there are even coaches who come in and pep talk their fighters between the rounds, it is a shame that you never really like David Frost, despite Michael Sheen’s charming screen presence, Nixon is by far the more fascinating character thanks largely to Frank Langella’s performance, the pleasure is in watching Richard Nixon get what he deserves, it is as if Ron Howard believes that even in politics the bad guy loses, it spurs the idea then that George Bush will get what he deserves in the long run, the film takes note that Nixon failed the American people and with its timing you can’t help but think that Howard wants a similar charge laid against Bush now that his presidency is over, Howard’s notion is overly optimistic but perhaps it is what is needed for the American people to redeem themselves for the last 8 years.