Review 273: Frost/Nixon

Frost/Nixon is such a moving historical drama, one of Ron Howard's best films and a film that really makes you feel some sympathy for Richard Nixon.

Based on the play Frost/Nixon by Peter Morgan (also the screenwriter), For three years after being forced from office, Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) stayed silent. But in summer 1977, the steely, cunning former commander-in-chief agreed to sit for one all-inclusive interview to confront the questions of his time in office and the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency. Nixon surprised everyone in choosing David Frost (Michael Sheen) as his televised confessor, intending to easily outfox the breezy British showman and secure a place in the hearts and minds of Americans. Likewise, Frost's team harbored doubts about their boss' ability to hold his own. But as cameras rolled, a charged battle of wits resulted. Would Nixon evade questions of his role in one of the nation's greatest disgraces? Or would Frost confound critics and bravely demand accountability from the man who'd built a career out of stonewalling? Over the course of their encounter, each man would reveal his own insecurities, ego and reserves of dignity--ultimately setting aside posturing in a stunning display of unvarnished truth.

The plot is a work of genius, it a story about power and that struggle for power between two men (David Frost and Richard Nixon) David Frost wanted to expose Nixon while Nixon wanted to keep the secret of Watergate and all because he was too scared to reveal the truth. The interviews were essentially a battle between Frost and Nixon. Nixon was trying to anticipate Frost's every move and Frost and his gang was trying to catch him out.
Nixon thought he had Frost over a barrel except in the end it was the other way around. But it wasn't like that at the beginning, it looked like Frost was going to lose, no one was going to buy the interviews, he would lose his reputation and his money.
Meanwhile Nixon thought he was going to get the money for nothing and that ultimately was his downfall and Frost began to lay out his plans.

Another thing thats amazing about this film is that it's a film that shows two great mens flaw: Frost was unprepared in the first three interviews and it looked like he was going to loose. Nixon was overconfident and like The Hare and the Tortoise he bought about his downfall. And like The Hare and the Tortoise it shows that real life is stranger than fiction.
As a result of this I think this is a film that shows that slow and steady always wins the race.

Director Ron Howard's direction is excellent, the cinematography is beautiful, it's well paced, the score by Hans Zimmer is fantastic, the production design (recreating the 70's) is brilliant, the costumes are stylish, the props ares well crafted, the way the film waves in between the events leading up to the interviews and interviews with the people involved is incredible, it keeps you constantly on your toes and on top of that the tension keeps rising.

The acting is fantastic, Frank Langella and Michael Sheen (reprising their roles from the original play) deliver spectacular performances as Frost and Nixon. It's just wonderful to watch those two duke it out on the big screen and them portray these two figures that tried to outwit each other.
Kevin Bacon's also very good in the film as Jack Brennan, he reminds me of one of those old fashioned trusted advisors from old medevill tales but above all he is absolutely loyal to Nixon and his loyalty really moves me.
Rebecca Hall is wonderful Caroline Cushing, she's not only Frost's love interest but she also acts as his moral support and she helps him through his struggles against Nixon.
Other actors who stand out for me are Toby Jones as Swifty Lazar, Sam Rockwell as James Reston, Jr. and Oliver Platt as Bob Zelnick and the rest of the cast is mostly great.

Frost/Nixon is a fantastic historical drama about two conflicting powerful figures, 5/5.

The Anonymous Critic.