Frost/Nixon

New Movie Review.

Written by Peter Morgan, based on his play
Directed by Ron Howard
Starring Michael Sheen, Frank Langella, Sam Rockwell, Oliver Platt, Kevin Bacon, Matthew McFayden

Frost/Nixon is the mostly factual account of when Playboy talk show host David Frost (Michael Sheen) ambitiously decided to interview the most controversial man in America, perhaps even the world at the time, Richard Nixon. Nixon (Frank Langella) had surrendered his place in the White House but had not yet confessed any involvement in illegal activity. The world wanted an admission of guilt and Frost was the least likely candidate to get it. Nixon's people considered David Frost such a lightweight interviewer that they actually took the offer. Better to go with Frost than someone serious, that proposes a threat to Nixon's reputation. Frost, however, was determined. He hired a crack team to help his cause, including friend/producer John Birt (Matthew McFayden), and two experienced journalists James Reston Jr. (Sam Rockwell) and Bob Zelnick (Oliver Platt). Together, they frantically research, strategize and fight over the best ways to nail the former president. This process is entertaining in it's own right, mostly due to the anticipation of getting to the actual interviews. When the film arrives to the point where Frost and Nixon are seated across from each other, with cameras rolling, it's the most exciting thing in film this year other than a slightly more theatrical match up between the Batman and the Joker.

This story is about the men and where they were in life and what the interviews meant to them. Peter Morgan, who wrote the play and the film's screenplay is more interested in Frost as an unlikely hero and Nixon as a tragic figure than he is in exploring the politics surrounding the situation. The interviews truly play out like a boxing match. They first meet at Nixon's California residence, and it seems they assess each other, or keeping with the boxing analogy, they "weigh" each other. It is abundantly clear that Nixon is a heavyweight and Frost barely registers on the scale. Both sides practice and learn their opponent's weaknesses. When the first of four interviews begins, Nixon is calm, prepared and confident while Frost is alarmingly timid. Frost's "trainers" call for a break, pretending that the tapes need to be switched. Both fighters retreat to their corners. I half expected Frost to be offered a water bottle and stitches. These scenes are masterful and command an impressive level of suspense and fascination.

Ron Howard is certainly no more than a technician, when it comes to the craft of film, but he is an apt one. His career isn't spotless but he has had success with films such as Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind. However he is also responsible for ED TV and The Da Vinci Code. Nonetheless, his best work is in this movie, which feels much less Hollywood than anything else he has done. A lot of the credit should go to Peter Morgan who is also responsible for recent movies The Queen and The Last King of Scotland. His writing is intelligent and sophisticated but also accessible and clever. Morgan offers us an insightful look at two men at a crossroads in life. Frost was in the middle of a successful career, but it began to unravel as he poured all of his attention and money into the Nixon project. His career, and reputation depended on the success of the interviews. On the surface, Nixon and his people wanted to deter the public from suspecting him of illegal activity and also gain some of the respect he had lost. However, as Frank Langella's performance suggests, it seems Nixon secretly needed to confess. He seems lonely, lost, damaged by guilt and regret. Ultimately, the interviews might be good for both men. For Frost it serves as a incredible achievement, for Nixon a vital catharsis.

Obviously, this is a film that relies on the portrayals of it's leads. Both Langella and Sheen give equally deep and committed turns. Langella's Nixon strikes a perfect balance between being an unlikable man who could not get along with those around him and a sympathetic character who desperately wanted to seve his country. Sheen is charismatic and arrogant, but he also has a subtle vulnerability that connects him to the audience. If Frost was played at a more impersonal and greater distance, he would have just seemed like an egotistical womanizer. Thankfully, Sheen hints at so much more. Rockwell and Platt give inspired supporting performances as the two men helping Frost. Rockwell still remains an under appreciated actor who had two other great roles this year in Snow Angels and Choke. Platt has always had a hit or miss career but he is delightful here. An odd thought crossed my mind while watching him act. Oliver Platt could play Roger Ebert if a movie was ever made requiring one to do so. They don't look alike but there is a similar intangible quality. Kevin Bacon has a key role as Nixon's right hand man. Through his perception we are able to see Nixon in a different light.

The film was different than what I had expected. I thought it to be a serious and politically minded drama. It feels more like a character study crossed with a thriller. There is a welcomed, natural humour in each character that lightens the mood but subtly strengthens the bond between the viewer and the film. Frost/Nixon is a remarkable entertainment that shouldn't be missed.