Frost/Nixon (2008)

As much as I enjoy American history, I'll admit my knowledge of the 70's- on is a little shaky since we usually didn't get that far in grammar/high school classes. So though this movie is based on historical events, I was totally unaware of the story. Frost/Nixon follows British television talk show host David Frost (Michael Sheen), a man intent on scoring an in-depth interview with the recently-retired Richard Nixon (Frank Langella). He works tirelessly to prove his legitimacy to Nixon, his staff, news networks, and potential financial backers. He recruits ABC employee Bob Zelnick (Oliver Platt) and Nixon historian/writer James Reston, Jr. (Sam Rockwell), who, along with Frost's producer John Birt (Matthew MacFadyen), intensely investigate the president's past, especially the Watergate scandal (it is Reston's goal to "give him the trial he never had"). Much of the film focuses on this pre-interview preparatory period, with fundraising, research, and an introductory meeting with Nixon, who is seen preparing himself for a boxing-like showdown and a longed-for rise from the shame and listlessness of retirement (the laid-back Frost is not seen as a threat as an interviewer). The interviews finally come together in a cozy living room. They are broken up into 2-hour segments spread across four days, with each part dedicated to one issue: Nixon The Man, Foreign Policy, Domestic Policy, and Watergate. Nixon proves to be a cunning opponent, easily sidestepping or twisting around many of Frost's denser questions. He drones on anecdotally, not allowing the surprised and unsure Frost to cut in. Everything they worked for seems to be for nothing, until new evidence on the Watergate scandal is brought to light in the final interview.

This movie was so good. Engrossing, well-paced, and a fascinating dual-character study of a perpetually optimistic, seemingly unshakable television host and his unlikely clash with the paranoid, greedy, desperate, and highly intelligent former president. The performances were excellent; I will be surprised if Frank Langella isn't nominated for something (there's a particular pivotal scene that's dying to be showcased at some awards ceremony). Martin Sheen was top-notch as well. I loved a lot of the side characters- especially Oliver Platt's and Sam Rockwell's diligent, bickering, Nixon-impersonating researchers. And Kevin Bacon as Nixon's extremely dedicated/ardent right-hand man Jack Brennan brought up interesting questions. Mainly, Kevin Bacon still acts? Also, when will these two guys break the sexual tension and sleep together? Ron Howard's brother Clint showed up for a few minutes as a cameraman and somehow earned himself an opening credit mention. Frost's sudden girlfriend Caroline Cushing (Rebecca Hall) felt really out of place, particularly since as an actress she deserves a better part than some pretty archetype who serves little purpose other than to inject some female presence into the story. Oh well, I guess. Otherwise I was really taken in by the film. The story is so interesting, especially since it was all new to me. I know some of it is fictionalized or assumed, but to me it doesn't lose its legitimacy as a portrayal of two larger-than-life men and the anxiety of the people around them yearning for closure after a serious setback for their nation.

4.5/5