# why is Frost/Nixon R rated? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 7, 2008, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-frost-nixon-r-rated/476118 "2008-12-07T11:48:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-frost-nixon-r-rated/476118/41 "2008-12-08T02:28:13Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > Of course he doesn’t- so what? It’s about an actor finding the essence of a man, not building a muppet head and making it talk. > > Frank Langella received rave reviews of his Nixon while doing it on Broadway 8 times a week- he’s probably great in the film too. He’s a scenery-chomping, saliva-rattling, comedy-club Sean Connery imitator, an American actor doing an American president and somehow managing not to sound the least bit American, or, indeed, even human. I have a theory that no self-respecting American actor dares approach Nixon at face value. He is too much The Other; any presentation of him as simply a paranoid ordinary guy from Southern California would be a slap in the face of decency, tantamount to showing Hitler enjoying a joke or petting a dog. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-frost-nixon-r-rated/476118/42 "2008-12-08T02:45:49Z")
[Ah, but the Brits have no problem showing Hitler enjoying jokes about pet dogs.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ_omtgb3ck) ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-frost-nixon-r-rated/476118/43 "2008-12-08T02:48:24Z")
I recently watched \*\*Before Sunset \*\*on DVD and was shocked to see that it received an R rating as well. I guess it was because there was the one scene in the cafe where Julie Delpy said the term “suck cock”. Had she actually demonstrated said term, then I could probably justify the rating… ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-frost-nixon-r-rated/476118/44 "2008-12-08T03:13:26Z")
> [@drm](#): > > I was about to post that I couldn’t remember any specific use of foul language - I completely blanked on cocksucker. I guess if that’s the rules, that’s the rules. I think it’s a worthwhile movie for kids to see (by kids I mean teenagers) so that’s unfortunate. Go ahead and take your teenagers- I think they’ve probably heard the term by now… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-frost-nixon-r-rated/476118/45 "2008-12-08T03:24:07Z")
> [@greatshakes](#): > > Because, even if you hated Nixon’s guts big time, and can make even the most amazing stretches in suspending disbelief, the concept that the actor in the movie even looks like Nixon is obscene. “Obscene”? Really? There’s a lot more to capturing a character than “looking like him”. The clips I’ve seen look great. Would you rather have a physical double or a great actor? (Nice if you could have both, but that doesn’t happen too often. They managed it for Hitler and Goebbels in the movie _Downfall_.) ETA: My favorite screen Nixon so far is Philip Baker Hall. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-frost-nixon-r-rated/476118/46 "2008-12-08T04:51:09Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > Go ahead and take your teenagers- I think they’ve probably heard the term by now… 😉 I forgot people under 18 can go to a rated R movie. I keep forgetting that R in the united states is the same as Adult Accompaniment (18A) in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-frost-nixon-r-rated/476118/47 "2008-12-08T07:14:58Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Sorry, I was unclear. > > To clarify: I don’t think there is currently a gun big enough to make me watch another Ron Howard movie. Ron Howard is near the top of my list of very most unfavorite directors. Ever. But, when I was under the impression that the movie would be a reenactment of the actual interviews, then there wouldn’t be much opportunity for Howard to fuck it up. Since now it sounds it will be just another Ron Howard movie, I’m gonna wait till it comes out on DVD, and watch it on an empty stomach. Eh, this is off the topic, but the fact that Ron Howard directed it just gives me even more reason to see it. He is one of my favorite directors. I’m not going to challenge your opinion, I’ll just allow my mileage to vary from yours, but in my opinion, all of the films he’s directed that I have seen, I have considered to be very good. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-frost-nixon-r-rated/476118/48 "2008-12-08T07:38:01Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Sorry, I was unclear. > > To clarify: I don’t think there is currently a gun big enough to make me watch another Ron Howard movie. Ron Howard is near the top of my list of very most unfavorite directors. Ever. But, when I was under the impression that the movie would be a reenactment of the actual interviews, then there wouldn’t be much opportunity for Howard to fuck it up. Since now it sounds it will be just another Ron Howard movie, I’m gonna wait till it comes out on DVD, and watch it on an empty stomach. _Apollo 13_ wasn’t any good? _Splash_ wasn’t any good? _Parenthood_, _Backdraft_, _A Beautiful Mind_? Ok, _A Beautiful Mind_ was kind of overrated, and he’s done a few sucky movies too (I won’t even mention the one with the word “code” in it), but he’s done some passable movies too. He’s not Bergman, but he’s not Uwe Boll either. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-frost-nixon-r-rated/476118/49 "2008-12-08T07:42:14Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > What? You don’t think members of the Log Cabin Republicans write slash fanfic? They probably do. [See rule 34.](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RuleThirtyFour) ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-frost-nixon-r-rated/476118/50 "2008-12-08T08:58:30Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > _Apollo 13_ wasn’t any good? _Splash_ wasn’t any good? _Parenthood_, _Backdraft_, _A Beautiful Mind_? > > Ok, _A Beautiful Mind_ was kind of overrated, and he’s done a few sucky movies too (I won’t even mention the one with the word “code” in it), but he’s done some passable movies too. He’s not Bergman, but he’s not Uwe Boll either. Um . . . You’re gonna try to argue, like, a logical argument about the objective quality of Ron Howard’s work? Sorry, but it don’t work like that. I think he’s a vomitous hack; you feel differently. Not sure where there’s any room for argument. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-frost-nixon-r-rated/476118/51 "2008-12-08T09:23:25Z")
My husband just told me he heard that smoking is reason for an R rating. I googled and found several sites, all discussing it, but no reference to MPAA adopting it. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-frost-nixon-r-rated/476118/52 "2008-12-08T15:36:28Z")
> [@Indistinguishable](#): > > [Ah, but the Brits have no problem showing Hitler enjoying jokes about pet dogs.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ_omtgb3ck) Apples/oranges. American artists mostly live or die by PC principles. It’s a combination of market forces on the individual and the disproportionate influence of out-groups in the arts. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-frost-nixon-r-rated/476118/53 "2008-12-08T16:02:25Z")
Did you actually click the link or are you replying only to my words? I was just amused by the easy ability to combine all the things you mentioned in your post, though in the form of well-known sketch comedy rather than historical biography. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-frost-nixon-r-rated/476118/54 "2008-12-08T16:14:24Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Um . . . You’re gonna try to argue, like, a logical argument about the objective quality of Ron Howard’s work? Sorry, but it don’t work like that. I think he’s a vomitous hack; you feel differently. Not sure where there’s any room for argument. If it makes you more inclined to see it, this is the least Ron Howardy movie that he has made. It’s really quite good and more about the actors than anything. It’s a very straightforward film in terms of directing, and the actors are recreating roles that they played on Broadway and in London, so there wasn’t a ton of directorial meddling. “If you only see one Ron Howard movie…” and all that. I don’t consider myself a fan of Howard’s either, but this one is worth seeing. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-frost-nixon-r-rated/476118/55 "2008-12-08T16:19:37Z")
A tale about the New York Times, known for not printing certain words, and the Nixon telephone tape transcripts: The late New York Times editor Abe Rosenthal exempted presidential swearing from the newspaper’s ban on shit during the Watergate era. Rosenthal’s obituary in the New York Observer (quoted by a Gawker commenter) tells the story: When a Watergate tape revealed that Richard Nixon had said, “I don’t give a shit what happens, I want you all to stonewall it,” The Times printed shit for the first time, though only in the text of the tape, and not in the accompanying news story. When a Newsweek reporter called Rosenthal to ask if this was a seismic change in the paper’s standards, he replied, “No. We’ll only take shit from the President.” [http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/003367.html](http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/003367.html) ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-frost-nixon-r-rated/476118/56 "2008-12-08T16:47:19Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Kissinger/Nixon shower scene. Nixon was quite anti-semitic, something Kissinger seemed to feed into. It’s quite amazing. I’m not imaging a shower scene, but something with ball gags and the Presidential riding crop. (According to _The Realist_, Johnson had his way with the bullet hole in Kennedy’s neck. It’s just a part of the story of Oval Office history.) ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-frost-nixon-r-rated/476118/57 "2008-12-08T17:40:09Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > A tale about the New York Times, known for not printing certain words Reminded me of this scene from _All the President’s Men_ > [@](#): > > Ben Bradlee: Cut the word “tits” and run it. > Carl Bernstein: Why? > Ben Bradlee: Because this is family newspaper. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-frost-nixon-r-rated/476118.md?page=2)