Movie Review: Frost/Nixon

FROST/NIXON
Main Players: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Sam Rockwell, et al.
Calling the shots: Ron Howard
Running time: 122mins
What's it about? After the Watergate scandal that forced President Nixon to resign, the whole of America (and the world) was waiting for an explanation; the truth. It never came. British TV presenter, David Frost gets an interview with the former president to see if he can get the answer the people so desperately want.

What did I think? I know the year is still young but here is the first best movie for 2009! I expect this movie to rake in some awards come this award season and it will be worthy of it.

You hear the premise (two guys talking) and it doesn’t seem all that thrilling. Trust me when I tell you, this is so much more than that. Though the inevitable face-off is what you’re waiting to see, everything around the interview (the lead-up, aftermath) plays just a vital and integral part of the film. If you are even slightly interested in one of the biggest events in our history this is a must see.

Mind you, that doesn’t mean you need to know what ‘Watergate’ actually means. There is enough background and you’ll get the gist of the situation.

The movie itself is almost flawless. Top-to-bottom, it is made so well you have to appreciate Ron Howard and the job his done here. Adapted from a stage play, the dialogue and plot is always engaging. There’s also a nice even flow to proceedings meaning it never lags and there is a lot of surprising humour amongst the drama, ensuring you are never bored.

Langella (nominated for a Golden Globe) embodies Nixon completely. Though not looking like him, he definitely plays the part. Sheen, Rockwell, Platt, Bacon, the list of talent roles on. There is no one that lets this film down and it is made all the more impressive with the fact that they are playing real life characters.

The film has almost a “making of” feel to it; with interviews with the characters thrown in to enhance the narrative. As I mentioned earlier though the interview itself is the main event and as it is described in the movie, it’s almost like a boxing match, the two combatants trading blows.

This movie is sure to leave a lasting impression as Nixon’s amazing revelation does. You’ll need to go on a hunt but it’d be a crying shame to miss this movie.

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