Category: Cowboy Pete’s TV Roundup

Just came back from a WGA screening of Ron Howard’s film, “Frost/Nixon.” It’s a hëll of an experience for me because I remember watching the interviews when they were first broadcast, so it’s another case of history that I’ve lived through becoming the stuff of drama.

Playwright Peter Morgan has done a superb job of translating his play into film, which is not always an easy undertaking. Dramatizing the historic interviews between David Frost and Richard Nixon–which were not without drama to begin with–Howard keeps the story moving along, building tension as Frost/Nixon comes across, not as a chess match, but four rounds of boxing. Each of them has their corner men, urging them to stay steady, to jab, to keep dodging, to stay in control. Particularly standout among the supporting players is the chameleonic Sam Rockwell as James Reston, pursuing a goal of taking down Nixon as if he’s the voice of the entire country.

Then there’s Michael Sheen as Frost, looking increasingly terrified as he realizes that what began as a nifty and high-profile idea has morphed into a potentially career ending endeavor that could leave him financially busted to boot, and eventually developing the spine of steel needed to go toe to toe with Nixon.

But it’s Frank Langella’s Nixon that’s the standout. If he isn’t up for an Oscar for best actor, there is simply no justice. With a minimal amount of make-up, and making no attempt to do a Richard Nixon impression, he nevertheless embodies the late president as if he were channeling his spirit. When it got down to their final confrontation over Watergate, I was literally on the edge of my seat.

“Frost/Nixon” is an absolute must-see.

PAD

I’m not predisposed to like a Bond film. I’m predisposed to love a Bond film. And I loved “Casino Royale,” the reboot that was objected to by a bevy of Bond fans who dismissed Daniel Craig as “James Blond” or even “James Bland”…until they saw it. Craig remains the main selling point of the sequel, and does the best he can with what he’s handed. And Dame Dench’s M remains stellar.

Other than that, however…I had some major problems both with what was there, and even more, with what wasn’t.

MAJOR spoilers below the cut line, but it really can’t be helped.

Continue Reading “Cowboy Pete is mildly shaken and not particularly stirred by “Quantum of Solace”” →

One of the fun casting bits on “Desperate Housewives” has been Kathry Joosten as neighborhood busybody Karen McCluskey. Joosten previously was best known as Mrs. Landingham, the formidable Presidential secretary on “West Wing” who met a far-too-soon violent death in a car accident. Eventually she was replaced by Deborah Fiderer, portrayed by the inestimable Lily Tomlin.

So story developments on “Desperate Housewives” have landed Poor Mrs McCluskey in a hëll of a fix, consigned to a hospital’s mental ward as a neighborhood villain has convinced the other residents that Mrs M is having a breakdown. Deciding that she needs reinforcements in the face of such villainy, Mrs. M sends out a call to the toughest woman she knows: Her sister.

Played by Lily Tomlin.

President Bartlett’s two secretaries teamed up. The villain doesn’t stand a chance.

PAD

Yes, Fox gave “Terminator” a full season pick-up. And where are they relocating it to?

Friday nights. The official Fox genre death slot, where a dozen SF series have gone to die.

And what are they putting as its lead in? “Dollhouse.” Because Joss Whedon’s last project did so well on Friday nights that they just had to put his newest one in the same slot.

And when are they launching it?

In February on Friday the 13th.

It’s Fox. It’s SF. It’s Friday. It’s Friday the 13th.

What could possibly go wrong?

PAD

Yes, Fox gave “Terminator” a full season pick-up. And where are they relocating it to?

Friday nights. The official Fox genre death slot, where a dozen SF series have gone to die.

And what are they putting as its lead in? “Dollhouse.” Because Joss Whedon’s last project did so well on Friday nights that they just had to put his newest one in the same slot.

And when are they launching it?

In February on Friday the 13th.

It’s Fox. It’s SF. It’s Friday. It’s Friday the 13th.

What could possibly go wrong?

PAD

And I include George Lucas in that question. Because if so, how did the following exchange get through, as seen in the promos for the next episode:

ANAKIN: I lost R2-D2.

OBI-WAN: Well, R2 units are a dime a dozen…

A little free advice to the writers over there: If you MUST use cliches, try to avoid cliches that don’t make sense in the universe your stories are set in, considering a dime is a unit of currency in the United States. In the Star Wars universe, the only denomination used is “credits.”

Pay attention, people. Don’t make me come over there.

PAD

I’ve been a strident critic of Fox and their pull the plug mentality on anything SF-related. So in the interests of fairness, I have to give props to Fox for giving a full season commitment to “Terminator.” Let’s hope that those who are reluctant to tune in figuring they don’t want to get too attached to yet another doomed Fox SF show will take that as incentive to come aboard.

Granted, the show’s been uneven, but there’s so much good stuff there that I’m hoping it finds its footing, and it’s nice that Fox is giving it the opportunity to do so.

PAD