Based on the world-famous interview between David Frost and Richard Nixon of 1977, this film explores the moral – as well as financial barriers – which Frost had to battle past in order to secure a lucrative sit-down discussion with the most important man in world politics, the US President.
Richard Nixon had been in office throughout the Vietnam War and had vehemently defended the US’s role in the country, stating that the violence threatened by their people, was enough to warrant the subsequent invasion and the chaos that ensued, as well as the scandal involving his own men invading rival offices. Frost’s job was to entice sound bites and comments from the then-President which would land him in icy waters with his peers and the media. Frost was victorious and the interview would be hailed as one of the most significant pieces of media in the 20th century.
Michael Sheen, having played Tony Blair in the film The Queen, lights up the role here as David Frost, a young, spunky journalist-cum-presenter whose role it was to provoke the incriminating comments from the President, fantastically portrayed by Frank Langella under the control of Ron Howard, director extraordinaire; creator of cult TV show Arrested Development to name but one of his masterpieces.
Sheen does a marvellous job of bringing to light the importance the interviews had on his professional career, for the debacle was a make or break situation. Not only does he successfully carry across the nervous nature of the proceedings in a highly believable manner, he also leads the audience into believing he has the entire affair under control, despite him rarely having the upper hand. Langella, starring opposite Sheen as the infamous US President, a star himself in the Watergate scandal. Putting in a brilliant performance, he takes control of the early proceedings, encapsulating the intensity and drama that bestowed the very realms of the TV studio he inhabited during the arduous process, as he began to crumble under the pressure of the truth; past secrets brought to the table as the great man saw his political pride and esteemed career flash before his very own eyes.
In short, Frost/Nixon delivers a tremendous piece of drama that pays full lip service to the events of 1977 and despite the immoral and criminal choices taken by Richard Nixon throughout his time in office, Langella – with Howard at the helm – manages to evoke a sense of empathy for he demonstrates the very naivety that had brought various political figures to their knees. The audience is driven to a state of understanding; that of the pressures that come with the most powerful position in global politics, and the complications and moral dilemmas that follow.
A must-see film, even for those with little interest in politics.
9/10
2 comments:
Your review is on the whole excellent, very well thought out, and superbly written. That being said, I do have some issues with it that im going to raise in my retort. Firstly, you state that the original frost/nixon interview was, "world-famous..." It wasnt. The film elevates the original interview, which was very significant in its own right- drawing in record audience figures- the oringal interview did not reveal anything earth shattering or new, nor did Nixon admit to any criminal/illegal wrongdoings. Another issue are the historical inaccuracies. Nixon did not phone frost late at night after a drinking session, that simply didnt happen. You really think President Nixon would have been that stupid? He may have been corrupt, but not an idiot. There the two main issues. An interview that made the headlines for no more than a day, that and the unfortuantly phrased, "David Frost, a young, spunky journalist-cum-presenter." I mean, really? This is supposed to be a serious interview.
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