18½ – Movie Review
Director: Dan Mirvish (Between Us)
Writer: Dan Moya, Dan Mirvish (Screenplay)
Cast
- Willa Fitzgerald (Beach House)
- John Magaro (The Big Short)
- Richard Kind (Inside Out)
- Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead)
- Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men)
Plot: In 1974, a White House transcriber is thrust into the Watergate scandal when she obtains the only copy of the infamous 18½-minute gap in Nixon’s tapes.
Runtime: 1 Hour 28 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: 18½ starts as White House transcriber Connie (Fitzgerald) finds herself in possession of the leak Watergate scandal tape. Turning to journalist Paul (Magaro) to release the tapes, only the pair can’t find a tape player.
As the pair search for a tape player, they end up creating their own wild story. One that spirals out of control, as they look to discover what is on the recording.
Verdict on 18½
18½ is a comedy looking to expose the truth and how the recordings from Watergate got released. It will follow up with the pair as they struggle to find a way to play the tape and explore why they both want a change from Nixon.
We have seen plenty of stories about the Watergate Scandal. From the small part of ‘Forrest Gump’ or the interview in ‘Frost/Nixon’. This story doesn’t do enough to make the discovery interesting. Playing too heavily into the comedy the film wants to put together.
The lead performances from Willa Fitzgerald and John Magaro are both strong. They work well together, and the supporting cast will bring the required laughs to the story.
Where to Watch: 18½ is available to stream on Sky in the UK. It is also available to rent or buy on Amazon, Microsoft or Sky Store.
Final Thoughts –18½ is a clever idea, only it doesn’t hit enough for the comedy.
