Frost/NixonRated R
Running time: 2 hrs 2 mins
Cast:
Frank Langella
Michael Sheen
Sam Rockwell
Kevin Bacon
Critical Consensus:
**** out of *****
(90% Fresh Rating!)
Mikey @ The Movies Official Rating:
***** out of *****
The Premise:
A dramatic retelling of the post-Watergate television interviews between British talk-show host David Frost and former president Richard Nixon.
MY REVIEW
Frost/Nixon is an absolutely remarkable and powerful film in so many ways! I had to look up the Watergate Scandals to actually know completely what the whole thing was about. I'm not afraid to admit I was virtually clueless on the story. Frost/Nixon isn't necessarily just about Watergate as it is about two men going head to head to secure their names for the better in the eyes of the world. Richard Nixon of course will do what he can to rehabilitate his name since at the time he was the worst of the worst. He shocked a nation. He angered a nation. He disappointing a nation. David Frost, a "lightweight" TV personality secured the interview to get Nixon to admit guilt and offer the country an apology. Both did what they could at whatever cost. And in the end, we as a film audience get to see one of the best head to head battles in recent movie history.
Sometimes a movie can be carried by good performances. Sometimes a movie can be carried by a brilliant, tense, and engaging storyline. This movie is carried strongly by both aspects. The story is clearly based off the 1977 "Frost interviews Richard Nixon" segments that debuted in May of '77 in four 90 minute viewings. The interview took place over 28 hours spanning almost a month in time. This popular interview was than adapted into a Tony winning Broadway show of the same title (Frost/Nixon). Some of the details are apparently slightly fictionalized (such as the ever so important drunk phone call from Nixon to Frost before the crucial final interview). But we get is an almost true to life recount of the events. The story focuses more so on David Frost so as to shed a good light on him. We technically see more of Nixon but Frost is shown in such a positive way. After all we don't want to feel sorry for Nixon do we?
What we view is the challenges Frost and his team go through to actually fund the interview (which Frost ends up paying $600,000 to do) and also to find a network willing to air the now famous interview. No one would pick it up so it was done independently by Frost and team. I bet all those networks regret that. The story is told so magnificently it's so hard to describe. I feel like there were two halves of the tale. The first 50 or so minutes depicts the lead up to the interviews, and then the second half is some of the greatest film making I've seen recently. The last hour is chalk full of the interview segments. Nixon just pulverizes Frost. He tears him apart for 26 hours virtually. But that final interview regarding to Watergate...that was some fine work in every aspect of film. This is easily one of the best screenplays of 2008.
The performances, namely from the two main men, were astonishing to say the least. Starting with Michael Sheen (The Queen, and also the Broadway version of Frost/Nixon). Some consider him a lead performer in the film, but I'm going to be stingy and say he's supporting. He has a lot of screen time, yes, but his performance feels overshadowed (more on that in a second). Regardless of lead or supporting, the man was brilliant! He plays the suave and charming Frost to a degree of immense likability. You really root for this guy the whole way! He truly shines in his interview scenes, especially in the final act. Now the true lead actor of the film is Richard Nixon himself...Frank Langella (Superman Returns, and also the Broadway version of Frost/Nixon). All I can say is...WOW! What a remarkable and jaw dropping performance. This guy deserves the Oscar nomination he is surely going to get! You really dislike Nixon most of this film, but you can't help but laugh at a few things he says, thanks in part to this performance. He has at least three scenes in this film that just blew me away. The scene with the drunk phone call was so amazing. But as well as Sheen, he truly shined in that final interview scene and he almost makes you feel incredibly sad for Richard Nixon. A very powerful performance to say the least. Easily at this point the best male performance of the year!
That's not all however. Oscar winning director Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13) has probably shown us his masterpiece. I just applaud this guy for doing a beautiful job at directing this film. The academy better nominate him, it would be a travesty if not! I also think the cinematography of this film was a character in itself. Mainly in the interview scenes. The camera work really captured the essence and feel of what was really going on in that living room. The zoomed in shots of Nixon as went on rants...just amazing! The musical score was pretty subdued and never overpowering, but it still added a great feel to the movie.
This really is almost a perfectly crafted film, and I honestly have no complaints about it. A movie that could have so easily bored me turned out to be one of the most entertaining films of the year for me. To me there is nothing better than a head to head acting showdown, and this really has some of the best confrontation scenes in a long time! You're eyes will be glued to the screen! A brilliant, brilliant movie!
Sometimes a movie can be carried by good performances. Sometimes a movie can be carried by a brilliant, tense, and engaging storyline. This movie is carried strongly by both aspects. The story is clearly based off the 1977 "Frost interviews Richard Nixon" segments that debuted in May of '77 in four 90 minute viewings. The interview took place over 28 hours spanning almost a month in time. This popular interview was than adapted into a Tony winning Broadway show of the same title (Frost/Nixon). Some of the details are apparently slightly fictionalized (such as the ever so important drunk phone call from Nixon to Frost before the crucial final interview). But we get is an almost true to life recount of the events. The story focuses more so on David Frost so as to shed a good light on him. We technically see more of Nixon but Frost is shown in such a positive way. After all we don't want to feel sorry for Nixon do we?
What we view is the challenges Frost and his team go through to actually fund the interview (which Frost ends up paying $600,000 to do) and also to find a network willing to air the now famous interview. No one would pick it up so it was done independently by Frost and team. I bet all those networks regret that. The story is told so magnificently it's so hard to describe. I feel like there were two halves of the tale. The first 50 or so minutes depicts the lead up to the interviews, and then the second half is some of the greatest film making I've seen recently. The last hour is chalk full of the interview segments. Nixon just pulverizes Frost. He tears him apart for 26 hours virtually. But that final interview regarding to Watergate...that was some fine work in every aspect of film. This is easily one of the best screenplays of 2008.
The performances, namely from the two main men, were astonishing to say the least. Starting with Michael Sheen (The Queen, and also the Broadway version of Frost/Nixon). Some consider him a lead performer in the film, but I'm going to be stingy and say he's supporting. He has a lot of screen time, yes, but his performance feels overshadowed (more on that in a second). Regardless of lead or supporting, the man was brilliant! He plays the suave and charming Frost to a degree of immense likability. You really root for this guy the whole way! He truly shines in his interview scenes, especially in the final act. Now the true lead actor of the film is Richard Nixon himself...Frank Langella (Superman Returns, and also the Broadway version of Frost/Nixon). All I can say is...WOW! What a remarkable and jaw dropping performance. This guy deserves the Oscar nomination he is surely going to get! You really dislike Nixon most of this film, but you can't help but laugh at a few things he says, thanks in part to this performance. He has at least three scenes in this film that just blew me away. The scene with the drunk phone call was so amazing. But as well as Sheen, he truly shined in that final interview scene and he almost makes you feel incredibly sad for Richard Nixon. A very powerful performance to say the least. Easily at this point the best male performance of the year!
That's not all however. Oscar winning director Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13) has probably shown us his masterpiece. I just applaud this guy for doing a beautiful job at directing this film. The academy better nominate him, it would be a travesty if not! I also think the cinematography of this film was a character in itself. Mainly in the interview scenes. The camera work really captured the essence and feel of what was really going on in that living room. The zoomed in shots of Nixon as went on rants...just amazing! The musical score was pretty subdued and never overpowering, but it still added a great feel to the movie.
This really is almost a perfectly crafted film, and I honestly have no complaints about it. A movie that could have so easily bored me turned out to be one of the most entertaining films of the year for me. To me there is nothing better than a head to head acting showdown, and this really has some of the best confrontation scenes in a long time! You're eyes will be glued to the screen! A brilliant, brilliant movie!
To view this film's theatrical trailer, click this link: Frost/Nixon
*This is the 161st new film I've seen and reviewed this year.
Wow this movie sounds really compelling. It looked interesting from the trailer.
ReplyDeleteAll of us folk outside of NY and LA have to wait till Christmas to see it I guess.
Oh it's a very compelling but also very simplistic film. It was great!
ReplyDeleteAnd actually I live in Phoenix...lol.