Ryan McNeil
It’s strange that we live in an age of 24-Hour news, with channel upon channel of talking heads talking who never dare to ask the tough questions. So many journalists and pundits sit down with the most powerful people in the world, and far too often seem reluctant to go after them. However, thirty two years ago one interview took place where the tough questions were asked. The host was an unlikely source, and the guest was controversial president.
FROST/NIXON begins with the resignation of President Richard Nixon (Frank Langella). The 37th American President is all but certainly about to be impeached on charges of obstruction of justice, and rather than face the humiliation of standing trial, makes the last play he can and concedes the presidency. It’s a moment the whole world seems to be watching, including TV host David Frost (Michael Sheen).
Frost isn’t exactly what you’d call a beacon of journalism. In modern terms he’d find himself rating somewhere in between Geraldo Rivera and Jerry Springer. Not to be deterred, he makes a pitch to Nixon’s people to sit down for an in-depth interview. In the three years since leaving office, Nixon has wanted to tell his side, and his advisor Jack Brennan (Kevin bacon) and literary agent Swifty Lazar (Toby Young) tell him this might just be his best chance. Oh, and the $600,000 he’ll receive to do so won’t hurt either.
To Frost’s credit, he doesn’t want to waste the opportunity and brings in a team of researchers to get to the heart of this controversial subject (played with great gusto by Sam Rockwell, Oliver Platt, and Matthew Mcfadyen). Together, they want to get straight answers from the once commander-in-chief…to perhaps give him the trial he never had. As the cameras roll, they believe they’ve put together their best effort. But with air time far from guaranteed, and so much money still needing to be found, Frost finds himself in a truly imposing position – and this is before Nixon has even answered a question.
FROST/NIXON is based on a Tony nominated play of the same name, and fittingly, the play starred the same two men in the title roles. It’s easy to envision the piece as a play, since much of the movie is indeed people sitting around talking. What elevates the story, is the fact that Sheen and Langella are able to give a powerful performance based on subtlety, knowing that the camera will pick up every nervous stutter, and every sad pause.
Of the two leads, it is Frank Langella that you will focus on. He mercifully avoids turning his role into the Nixon impression so many of us try to do, and instead plays the man with a confidence and earnestness befitting an ego who is still convinced he has done no wrong. He plays Nixon as one part uncle who won’t stop telling stories at a wedding reception, and one part executive ready to ruin any dissenters who would dare question him. It’s a complex performance, and indeed one of the year’s best.
The movie is an effective adaptation by screenwriter Peter Morgan, director of the stage version who previously wrote THE QUEEN. Likewise, it’s an impressive bit of directing by Ron Howard (a man I’m not always the biggest fan of). One slight flaw for my money was the pacing of the story once the interviews begin. We are told that there will be six session, totaling twelve hours. The movie seems to jump from the second session to the last session in a heartbeat. While its true that much of those first eleven hours went the same way, and that there was no reason to go deep into all of it, the transition might feel a bit quick for some. It’s a minor flaw though, since what follows the transition is what makes the whole movie.
At one point in the film, Jack Brennan compares Frost to a boxing contender, who after taking his first punch from the champ realizes what he’s actually in for. The analogy is a good one, since I can’t help but look back on the events in this movie and see the similarity to a title fight. Indeed the two actors spar like a pair of welterweights, and while one dominates for many rounds the opponent still stands, and the bell never sounds. Much like Ali and Foreman during The Rumble in The Jungle, one of these two will seem dominated, weary, and beaten, until finally going for the knockout in the final round.
Great review, I have been wanting to see this film for some time now. The trailer looked very interesting and pretty cool. Its been getting good reviews too so Ill try to check it out sometime this weekend.