A popular British talk show host gets his chance to interview a former U.S. president in the drama, FROST/NIXON.The film is based on the actual interviews between British talk show host David Frost and former United States President Richard Nixon. The interview is presented in docudrama style, with Michael Sheen as Frost and Frank Langella as Nixon. In addition to the interview, director Ron Howard explores Frost’s producing team and their take on the historical encounter.
With a title reading like a boxing title fight, FROST/NIXON is definitely intended on being a proverbial and verbal bout between two titans of their respective fields, Frost as a television personality and Nixon a politician.
The build-up is great, with Howard and scribe Peter Morgan providing analysis and opinions from Frost and a collection of producers, but the clash between Frost and Nixon feels inconsequential. Late film critic Gene Siskel often posed the question, “Is this film more interesting than a documentary of the same actors having lunch?” with most films, regardless of the actors or subject, the answer would be no, but with FROST/NIXON the answer is undoubtedly “yes”. Howard attempts to examine what each of the men is trying to prove through the interviews, not only to the American public, but more importantly to themselves.
Had this been filmed as a documentary, the insight would not only have been greater, but factual. FROST/NIXON only fully examines Frost, leaving Nixon as a mere combatant, and through Howard’s eyes, a surprisingly sympathetic one.
The film is well made, if self-important, with Sheen giving a solid reenactment and Langella providing a succinct figure (even if the voice inflection is a bit much), and Howard skillfully twisting the stage play into big screen material.
FROST/NIXON appears to be an accurate and proficient retelling, but one which lacks little insight or a demanding purpose.
Grade: C
The build-up is great, with Howard and scribe Peter Morgan providing analysis and opinions from Frost and a collection of producers, but the clash between Frost and Nixon feels inconsequential. Late film critic Gene Siskel often posed the question, “Is this film more interesting than a documentary of the same actors having lunch?” with most films, regardless of the actors or subject, the answer would be no, but with FROST/NIXON the answer is undoubtedly “yes”. Howard attempts to examine what each of the men is trying to prove through the interviews, not only to the American public, but more importantly to themselves.
Had this been filmed as a documentary, the insight would not only have been greater, but factual. FROST/NIXON only fully examines Frost, leaving Nixon as a mere combatant, and through Howard’s eyes, a surprisingly sympathetic one.
The film is well made, if self-important, with Sheen giving a solid reenactment and Langella providing a succinct figure (even if the voice inflection is a bit much), and Howard skillfully twisting the stage play into big screen material.
FROST/NIXON appears to be an accurate and proficient retelling, but one which lacks little insight or a demanding purpose.
Grade: C
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