Work, and Ronaldo

Looks like that exercise thing was a phase. Due to amounts of work and a general forgetfulness on my part, i haven't done any proper exercise since the last blog entry.

Though last night I was focussing on more important things, such as Manchester United reaching the Semi Finals of the UEFA Champions League, at Porto's expense.

Porto had prevously eliminated United in the 2004 campaign, when Jose Mourinho was at the helm so it was natural to be fearful of a repeat event. Cristiano Ronaldo, however, had other ideas and produced the only goal of the game.

Exercising

So, i've decided to do more exercise. I remember back in Summer 2006 before i left for Uni, i was playing football for a couple of hours each day and i was in decent shape. I wasn't thin but i never have been. I felt great, confident and it was helpful going to Uni in shape. The Uni lifestyle hasn't helped though, and i put the weight back on.

Now i want to think, and feel, positively and exercising refreshes you as well as making you feel good about your body and mind.

I've already done 30 press-ups, plan to do 60 more tonight, and i'll see what i can think of for tomorrow. Next week, i'll be at home so i'm not sure what will happen there but i mustn't stop this new regime.

Frost/Nixon

Based on the world-famous interview between David Frost and Richard Nixon of 1977, this film explores the moral – as well as financial barriers – which Frost had to battle past in order to secure a lucrative sit-down discussion with the most important man in world politics, the US President.

Richard Nixon had been in office throughout the Vietnam War and had vehemently defended the US’s role in the country, stating that the violence threatened by their people, was enough to warrant the subsequent invasion and the chaos that ensued, as well as the scandal involving his own men invading rival offices. Frost’s job was to entice sound bites and comments from the then-President which would land him in icy waters with his peers and the media. Frost was victorious and the interview would be hailed as one of the most significant pieces of media in the 20^th century.

Michael Sheen, having played Tony Blair in the film The Queen, lights up the role here as David Frost, a young, spunky journalist-cum-presenter whose role it was to provoke the incriminating comments from the President, fantastically portrayed by Frank Langella under the control of Ron Howard, director extraordinaire; creator of cult TV show Arrested Development to name but one of his masterpieces.

Sheen does a marvellous job of bringing to light the importance the interviews had on his professional career, for the debacle was a make or break situation. Not only does he successfully carry across the nervous nature of the proceedings in a highly believable manner, he also leads the audience into believing he has the entire affair under control, despite him rarely having the upper hand. Langella, starring opposite Sheen as the infamous US President, a star himself in the Watergate scandal. Putting in a brilliant performance, he takes control of the early proceedings, encapsulating the intensity and drama that bestowed the very realms of the TV studio he inhabited during the arduous process, as he began to crumble under the pressure of the truth; past secrets brought to the table as the great man saw his political pride and esteemed career flash before his very own eyes.

In short, Frost/Nixon delivers a tremendous piece of drama that pays full lip service to the events of 1977 and despite the immoral and criminal choices taken by Richard Nixon throughout his time in office, Langella – with Howard at the helm – manages to evoke a sense of empathy for he demonstrates the very naivety that had brought various political figures to their knees. The audience is driven to a state of understanding; that of the pressures that come with the most powerful position in global politics, and the complications and moral dilemmas that follow.

A must-see film, even for those with little interest in politics.

9/10

Revolutionary Road

Directed by Sam Mendes, the man who brought the world American Beauty and Road to Perdition, Revolutionary Road brings to life the tale of a suburban couple who struggle to cope with their dreary existence, an experience made worse when they have children.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays the husband, Oscar winner Kate Winslett plays the wife; a seemingly perfect couple whose lives are changed dramatically when they have to raise their children. The stale environment of Frank’s (DiCaprio) office job offers him extra-marital affairs, whilst April (Winslett) resorts to her own external pleasures to cure her dreary role as the desperate housewife.

The film plays out wonderfully, presenting at a gentle pace the process through which the once happy couple realise that suburban married life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and are met head-on with the revelation that they are never going to be happy with one another, unable to fulfil their needs and constantly looking for a way out of the life they have built for themselves. Delusional, for the dream of moving out of the country, they reassure themselves that their time will come for them to be genuinely content with life in another land, away from the homeland pressures. Michael Shannons, playing the formidable John Givings who unveils the truth in front of their very eyes, is notable for delivering a truly gruesome and totally convincing performance as he shatters their dreams and the very hopes they base their stale lives upon.

The film has sadly been mostly overlooked at the Oscars, and it seems unlikely that the three aforementioned stars will not considered for their respective roles but for what it’s worth, Revolutionary Road deserves praise. It delivers an emotional rollercoaster ride, lifts the lid on the supposedly idyllic world of suburban marriage and is fantastic to watch in all respects. One of the best films of 2009.

8/10