REVIEW
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 Frost/Nixon
2009
Certificate: 15 | Runtime: 122 | Director: Ron Howard
Starring: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Kevin Bacon
 
In 1977, TV presenter David Frost (Sheen) is looking to really make a name for himself. He convinces his producer and friend John Burt (Matthew Macfadyen) to help fund a new project; a series of interviews with former President Richard Nixon (Langella). After some initial diplomacy the interviews begin, but relative novice Frost is no match for the experienced politician. With concerns about funding flying around as well, has Frost's attempt to launch himself turned into the death knell of his career?
Make no mistake about it, Frost/Nixon was a risky film to make. In casting the two leads from the original stage version, it is robbed of a significant star name. And on the face of it, it's a film about two people talking to each other during series of interviews a significant number of people have probably never heard about. But based on the finished product, the risk was worth taking. The fact that it was dismissed as Oscar-bait in some quarters shows how unaware some are of the challenges films like this have to face to get recognition.
In many ways, what the film actually presents us with is a duel; a battle of wits, knowledge and intelligence between two very motivated individuals. On the one hand, there's the young, slightly cocky TV presenter wanting to get into the big leagues; on the other, the disgraced but vastly intellectual statesman wanting to air his side of the story. Starting with Sheen, the performances are very good across the board. Sheen doesn't overplay Frost's distinctive tone of voice or mannerisms, but they are there all the time. He brings a terrific combination of smarm and charm to the role, and presents him as a decent but slightly cocky figure. Admittedly the film struggles to get under the skin of Frost in the way it does with Nixon, but that's not Sheen's fault.
And as for Langella, he's brilliant. What's particularly intriguing is that he neither sounds nor looks like Nixon, but we accept him as the former President without any hesitation. With very little make-up – if any – he just looks like himself, and his Nixon voice sounds a bit like Sean Connery's American accent. And, unlike Anthony Hopkins in Nixon, he doesn't even replicate the mannerisms. But what this allows us to do is focus on what is being said in the interviews – and the way the two figures battle with each other – rather than fixate on the impersonation itself. His Nixon is not an ogre; he's funny, charming and fiercely intelligent, and this is also good to see.
Good supporting performances come from Oliver Platt and Sam Rockwell as Bob Zelnick and James Reston respectively; two researchers hired to prepare Frost for the interviews. And there's a tidy little role for Rebecca Hall as Frost's latest squeeze as well. Other memorable turns come from Kevin Bacon and Toby Jones as Jack Brennan and Swifty Lazar respectively.
Writer Peter Morgan and Howard really deserve substantial credit as well. They have constructed a film that adopts exactly the right tone – serious, but not without jovial moments – and one which flows incredibly well. It's a film that is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking and interesting, and that's a difficult thing to achieve.
If you wanted to pick out a problem, it's really the aforementioned issue regarding Frost's development. He changes very little as the film progresses; his only significant alteration being to adopt a more professional attitude about what he's doing. This is in contrast to the way the film probes Nixon's conscience, soul and background. Problems with selling the rights to the interviews are thrown Frost's way to present him with another challenge, but this is little more than a distraction from the main event – the interviews themselves. With two fine actors putting in some excellent work, and with a script featuring flowing dialogue and a thorough examination of Nixon's time in office, the film really impresses in the one area where it absolutely had to. All the other good things about it are, in many ways, a bonus.© David Mercier
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