‘Gaslit’ Review: Julia Roberts vs. Nixon in a Watergate Review

In a world where ‘All the President’s Men’ still exists, any fictional approach to the Watergate scandal seems unnecessary, but here it comes. ‘gaslit’ with one, it is announced, new and feminine perspective of the anticlimax of the espionage plot carried out by the Nixon administration in 1972, in full re-election campaign. To make a brief reminder: five men were discovered while trying to force entry to the headquarters of the Democratic Party in Washington; men, that is, of the president, who had to place microphones and tap the phones of their rivals. The prehistory of Pegasus.

Nothing surprises the presence as a producer of Sam Esmail, who as creator of ‘Mr. Robot’ and director of the first season of ‘Homecoming’ has shown great interest in conspiracies and political maneuvering in the dark. From the writers room of ‘Mr. Robot’ comes the creator of ‘Gaslit’, Robbie Pickering, who was inspired by Slate’s ‘Slow Burn’ podcast. Like in ‘Homecoming’, Julia Roberts it plays an important role, though not as much as the ads might suggest.

‘Gaslit’ is sold a bit like “the series about the woman who ratted out Nixon”, that is, Martha Mitchell (Roberts), wife of John N. Mitchell (Sean Penn, unrecognizable under tons of latex), former Minister of Justice and head of the Committee for the re-election of the President. Known in high society for speaking up (and speaking up), this outspoken Southerner was a pioneer in sounding the alarm about Nixon’s role in Watergate. And as the series explains, in response to her indiscretions, she was held in a hotel against her will during the days after the robbery was revealed.

Character, actress and plot are fascinating, but ‘Gaslit’ encompasses quite a few other perspectives. In fact, the series does not start with Martha Mitchell, but with a disturbing introduction by former FBI agent G. Gordon Liddy (Shea Whighham, synonymous with prestige TV), Nixon’s chief ‘plumber’ along with former CIA agent Howard Hunt (JC MacKenzie). History, says Liddy, one hand to the fire, is “written and rewritten by soldiers who carry the flag of kings. That’s what it means to be strong. That’s what it means to be an American. That’s what it means to be Nixon.” “. What we see next, a series of comic misfortunes starring ridiculous men, completely contradicts that idea.

‘Gaslit’ also contains a romantic comedy starring former counselor John Dean (dan stevens), who unknowingly gets involved in the dark conspiracy to favor Nixon’s re-election, and his second wife Mo Kane Dean (Betty Gilpin), a flight attendant with pink novelist aspirations. Every time they appear on the scene, ‘Gaslit’ becomes a new ‘Barefoot in the Park’.

In front of the address matt ross Above all, he uses a tone that is more cynical than warm, light years away from the sincere emotion of his beloved ‘Captain Fantastic’. When powerful men are especially clumsy, one can think of Adam McKay’s satires, especially ‘The Vice of Power’, in which Christian Bale also carried kilos of latex to play Dick Cheney. Many of the best and most awkward laughs come from illustrious supporting cast: Nat Faxon, patton oswalt or one Martha Kelly (trafficker Laurie from ‘Euphoria’) who again makes the most of doing the least.