Rowan Atkinson

For those of you who have never heard of Rowan Atkinson, I apologize. You’ve truly been missing out.

The first thing I ever saw of Rowan Atkinson’s work was “Mr. Bean”, and I instantly loved the set-up. The show is largely sit-com-like, based on confrontation or misadventures Atkinson’s character, Mr. Bean, stumbles across. The character is almost entirely played through physical comedy, and some sketches include perhaps one line, coming from the character opposite Mr. Bean. When I first started watching this show, I was amazed how much Atkinson could portray in simple movements. I would certainly say that the sketches are fairly ridiculous, but they never cease to amaze me. Atkinson went on to make two feature length films out of his character, the latter being fairly recent. However, I would suggest if you’re looking to see the best of Mr. Bean to watch the original TV series, or the first movie. I wasn’t to keen on the second.

As much as I love Mr. Bean, I’m equally impressed by Atkinson’s work in more conventional comedies. “The Black Adder” was a British comedy series that ran through most of 80s, based around Atkinson’s pretentious, often obnoxious character, Edmund Blackadder. Naturally, Atkinson is absolutely hilarious, but I have to say this is one of the best sit-coms you can watch if you’re interested in good, classic, comedic writing. It’s just straight up funny. A fun fact, Hugh Laurie appeared in a handful of “Black Adder” series as an idiotic King George the IV to whom Atkinson’s character is a butler.

If this hasn’t sold you on Atkinson so far, I’m sure this will get you. Anyone remember the movie “Rat Race”? If so, you’ll remember Atkinson as the narcoleptic foreign man that nearly won the entire game. This movie is a classic my book, and it never fails to crack me up no matter how many times I watch.

Finally, if you’re already a fan of Atkinson and want to see more, I would suggest watching “Johnny English”. It’s a kind of farcical take on James Bond films. I would also suggest “Keeping Mum”. In this one, Atkinson’s plays a far more dramatic role, and I think he manages to do a fantastic job. 

Frost/Nixon

                  Today, I kind of want to step away from writing about a specific actor, and mainly talk about one of my favorite movies that I’d willing to bet you’ve never seen.

“Frost/Nixon”

                  This movie is based on the series of interviews Richard Nixon took part in, conducted by David Frost, after he left office. The movie outlines how Frost aims to produce the interviews, and make them interesting to the American audience. The interviews end in Nixon admitting that had in fact been unethical while in office.

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                  The plots extremely basic, but the acting is particularly incredible. The movie stars Frank Langella as Nixon and Michael Sheen as David Frost. I particularly captured by Langella’s work as Nixon. He seemed to capture how utterly repulsive Nixon could be on camera, while maintaining the President’s political wit.  I found myself amazed by how endearing I would find Nixon, and almost feeling bad that he was nearly hated by most of the nation. Langella was able to create the sort “humanness” around Nixon, that few would consider to be possible.

                  Naturally, all I’ve ever really known about Nixon is what we’ve learned in school, so mainly the Watergate Scandal… and only Watergate. We don’t really understand him to be anymore than that guy that “wasn’t a crook”. If you’re like me, you likely wrote him off as some republican president that was just a slime ball.

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                  Perhaps my preconceived notion made Langella’s Nixon all the more surprising and fascinating, but I think most would agree that, regardless, it was a very interesting way to paint him. Of course, when the interviews became serious and Nixon admitted that he had lied, Langella shows a particularly nasty, self-absorbed shade of the President that likely existed right along with his more endearing side.

                  The most brilliant part of this movie and Langella’s performance is certainly the mixture of kindness and ugliness in Nixon’s character. He was no simply the villain, but he was also the victim of his own devices. By the end of the movie, your heart really goes out to Nixon, as much of a bastard as he seemed, because he is broken. He’s broken, and he’s entirely conscious of his downfall.