Film Review: "18 1/2"
Runtime: 88 minutes
Director: Dan Mirvish
Writers: Daniel Moya
Stars: Willa Fitzgerald, John Magaro, Vondie Curtis Hall, Catherine Curtin, Richard Kind, Sullivan Jones, Bruce Campbell, Ted Raimi, Jon Cryer, Claire Saunders, Alanna Saunders, Marija Abney, Lloyd Kaufman, Chris Quintos Cathcart
After the election of Donald Trump and the blatant corruption of his administration, cinema has turned to historical instances of abuses of power and downright criminal behavior of previous presidents. And if we are looking at Trump-like misconduct, look no further than the early-1970s and the Nixon administration.
In Dan Mirvish’s film “18 1/2,” we experience a snapshot of the time. It was a period of a confluence of political and society extremes. There was undying respect of the office of the president colliding with tough critics who denounced his fervent affinity for “law and order,” and his botched continuation of the Vietnam War.
And at the center of this story is the postulation of what happened to 18 and a half minutes of erased recordings that would lead to the demise of the 38th president. Historically, we don’t know when or how those 18 and a half minutes disappeared. Mirvish and screenwriter Daniel Moya take creative license in imagining what could have occurred.
The film follows Connie (Willa Fitzgerald), a White House transcriptionist, who, while listening to a recording, uncovers a damning conversation between Nixon (Bruce Campbell), General Al Haig (Ted Raimi) and Chief of Staff Bob Haldeman (Jon Cryer). Alarmed by what she has heard, she has contacted investigative journalist Paul (John Magaro) to provide evidence of Nixon’s collusion and obstruction of justice.
The film is seeped in the paranoia of the time. Nixon was a paranoid man; that is partially why he recorded everything. In turn, there was always a sense of uneasiness. Connie and Paul never know who is a Nixon apologist and who is an anti-Nixon radical.
However, the film doesn’t keep you on pins and needles for its entire runtime. Instead, it balances tones from this thriller to a Shakespearean-esque comedy of errors. There are moments the humor is tongue-in-cheek to truly highlight the absurdity of the situation. Because, at the end of the day, the Watergate Scandal was utterly absurd.
If you enjoy political conspiracy films, thrillers, Coen-esque farces, or are obsessed with the Watergate Scandal (as I am), then “18 1/2” is a film you want to seek out. To learn more about the film and see where it is playing nearest you, visit the website: https://www.18andahalfmovie.com.
