Frost/Nixon

Brilliant

I wasn't expecting too much from this movie, which depicts events that occurred just outside my political radar as I was too hormonal at the time and so the 'momentousness' of the occasion passed me by. Add to that I have always found 'Frostie' to be smarmy and overrated and the idea of a movie all about an interview seemed to hold out the possibility I was going to fall asleep pretty quickly.

Often low expectations are the best way to see a movie, and I was instantly absorbed by the authentic 70s atmosphere that was created and of the hints at all the political intrigue taking place, with more than a few parallels with the Bush administration. Performances were slightly understated, which turned out to be just the right approach and by the end of the movie I was fully ready to be convinced I was actually watching Frost and Nixon. I have also revised my opinion of Frostie following this, incidentally; flawed he may be but I have a new respect for this achievement at least.

Now I have to watch the original and read everything I can find to fill in the inevitable gaps left by a 2 hr movie, and of course then to watch it again on DVD when it comes out so I can pause it now and then. After I watch it again maybe 5 stars?

Oscar Hype

Every year a bunch of serious dramas get released in the run up to the Academy awards. And every a year at least one film gets over rated in all the hype. Frost/Nixon is this years film.

Don't get me wrong, Frank Langella's performance makes it well worth watching. But (Sam Rockwell aside) the supporting actors are either blindly cast (Toby Jones is slapped into just about everything these days and played a similar role in 'W') or as in the case of Micheal Sheen, they are out right cringeworthy.

Sheen's impersonation is impresive in one way, but that's what it is - an impersonation, not an actor's dramatisation. It's a blend of David Frost sure, with the winks to camera feel of Austin Powers and Alan Partridge so inappropriate against Langella's triumph.

Ron Howard too, true to form, wastes the rich material. Both he and the film have stolen - Watergate style, 'The Wrestler's rightful place at the Oscar's. In my humble opinion, You're better off watching Oliver Stone's brilliant 'Nixon'

[Highly rated reviewer]

The power of the close up

Fascinating new film from mainstream filmmaker Ron Howard about the media event of the 20th century watched by over 400 million people worldwide. The film follows entertainer, performer and playboy David Frost in his quest to become a serious journalist by interviewing the recently disgraced Richard Nixon. Nixon, the only American president ever to resign from office, wants to find a way back east to Washington from his self imposed exile in California, accepts the offer of an interview believing Frost to be a soft touch. The resulting 2 hours feature Frost and his meetings with his researchers and producers, advertisers and of course, with Nixon himself. The film as a whole works on may levels with a perfect balance of political intrigue, humour and tension. Howard’s direction is unfussy and concentrates on the close ups of Frost and especially Nixon in an essentially televisual manner. My only criticisms are aimed at the background of the Watergate scandal, which is never probably explained; although I do appreciate the film is solely about Frost and Nixon and on that basis I can cope with the fact that Frost’s love interest, played by Rebecca Hall is underwritten.

A film about an interview? Yes, and it keeps you entertained from start till finish

Previous to watching this I had never seen the interviews before. But that did not matter as the film gathers momentum from the start leading to the confrontation of these two men, both in it to win it, the looser would fall to their peril.

And wow did the film deliver, the interview itself felt more like a boxing match, each of them brutualy going for each other. The film even shows different sides of the two men showing a deeper side to them both. I thoroughly enjoyed this and recommend to all, political or not you will enjoy this very well made film.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Frost/Nixon

You really have to be into polictics for this one I gave it 20 minutes and it was just toooooooooo boring nothing more I can say.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Frost/Nixon

Its ok, but it wasnt really my type of movie...

[Highly rated reviewer]

Frosty !!

This was slow with no real pace and with a character who did not look or sound like David Frost at all - long winded

[Highly rated reviewer]

Frost/Nixon

Frank Langella gives a brilliant performance as disgraced former president Richard Nixon in this factual pic by uber-director Ron Howard. It is an excellent role and one that he pulls of with a great amount of panache, but if you had asked me before the nominations came out for the Oscars as to who should have been getting the Best Actor nod then I would have said in a heartbeat that it should have been Michael Sheen.

Sheen has come from left field in recent years. I remember first clapping eyes on him when he portrayed Tony Blair in TV drama The Deal and thinking that it was a stunning impersonation of the then British Prime Minister (a role he subsequently reprised in The Queen). Then I briefly caught his turn as the enigmatic Kenneth Williams in Fantabuloosa and thought he had done a stunning job but the moment he opens his mouth in Frost/Nixon made me a fan.

For quite simply he IS David Frost. It was like Sheen had studied every single piece of footage that ever featured Frost, sucked all the life force out of it and then just hit the play button. The transition is remarkable and coupled with Langella’s Nixon gives the film an air of authenticity and power. Then again you’d be worried if these two hadn’t nailed considering they have been doing the theatre version for god knows how long.

Personally I didn’t know much about the Watergate scandal or the subsequent fallout. I doubt I am the only one, but thankfully Ron Howard has thought of everything on that score. Not only has he carefully constructed a nice film which flows brilliantly but has also done it in the style of a mock documentary, with the characters being interviewed about their involvement in the now infamous television trial.

Intersperse these inside anecdotes in to a telling reconstruction of the events that unfolded and what you get is a real inside glance into not only the press and its position as the public voice but also a telling biography in to these two men. The interview is presented like a 4 round boxing match and its no accident either. The experienced older dog who can slip his way out before hitting you with a sucker punch verses the spunky up and comer who may have bitten off more then he could chew. And when one fighter makes a blow, the aides come out of their corners to water them down and pep talk them through the next step.

The tension steadily builds to their final conflict and while it is done only with words it is no less brutal or bruising then a real fist encounter would have been. But then theres the whole graciousness afterwards which really tells a story, an almost touching realisation that these two believed they had faced a formidable opponent. By being able to convey all of these in to its running time, Frost/Nixon is a true spectacle to witness. I found myself having a new found respect for David Frost (a man I only knew previously from Through The Keyhole) but also for Nixon, who is given a sympathetic arm here and portrayed not as a monster but simply as a man who believed in what he was doing.

A truly excellent movie, Frost/Nixon is a more pumped up Good Night and Good Luck, and should catapult Micheal Sheen in to the A-List so long as he stops making those godawful Underworld movies….

[Highly rated reviewer]

frost nixion

I was disappointed in this,it was abit heavy & hard to follow & didn't explain enough about what the watergate thing was,so i found it a little dull.

Frost/Nixon

gripping! Well acted.