The Duel of Frost/Nixon

A history lesson that is given by the way of a Hollywood feature film, Frost/Nixon (Michael Sheen/Frank Langella) describes the Watergate incident and the Nixon resignation. We are then treated with the lead up and the interview that helped define David Frost’s career. Ron Howard is the director of this adapted British play. This movie is showing David Frost’s side of the interviews and while it is successful, Frost just is not that interesting. A far cry from a bad film but you can only riveted when the talk is about Nixon or Nixon is actually on screen. Frost shows no backbone during most of the film and looks nervous and scared, but in the end he is fearless. Never backing down for a moment during the final interview until he gets Nixon right where he wants him. Sheen pulls off the acting as the believable playboy, talk show host with the guts to put his career on the line for a chance to get his interview. Sam Rockewell, Mathew McFayden and Oliver Platt play the “crack” investigative team David Frost hires to help research and bring down Nixon. Sam Rockewell’s character James Reston stands out above the rest but tones down when Sheen or Nixon is on screen.

Langella, although he does not look much like Nixon his demeanour bring us a performance that embodies the former president and after a few minutes of screen time Langella becomes Nixon. Acting arrogant when needed and bringing to the surface the former presidents mannerisms and voice inflection perfectly. Nixon is intimidating and commands respect with only his presence in the room and Langella does this splendidly. Nixon is brilliant at toying with Frost during their interview which is treated like a duel. Kevin Bacon also has minor supporting role as Nixon’s aid that portrays admiration, pity and embarrassment never sure what to do when Nixon is confronted. Hans Zimmer provides us with another fantastic score; it does not overpower but just sits idly in the background adding dimension to the film. Although a few dull moments in the middle of the film don’t make this a perfect film, but since the ending is already known and the story is fairly basic it proves that Howard is still a director that knows his way around a movie set. This movie is up for a few Academy Awards and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Langella accepting best actor or the film walking away with best editing.

4 out of 5
Colin Enquist