Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
For three years after being forced from office, Nixon remained silent. But in summer 1977, the steely, cunning former commander-in-chief agreed to sit for one all-inclusive interview to confront the questions of his time in office and the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency. Nixon surprised everyone in selecting Frost as his televised confessor, intending to easily outfox the breezy British showman and secure a place in the hearts and minds of Americans. Likewise, Frost's team harboured doubts about their boss's ability to hold his own. But as the cameras rolled, a charged battle of wits resulted.
Frost/Nixon is elevated almost entirely by its extraordinary performances, particularly Frank Langella's towering portrayal of Nixon — commanding, self-pitying, and complex — and Michael Sheen's precise rendering of Frost's breezy ambition hardening into resolve. The acting earns a genuine 4. The plot, adapted from Peter Morgan's stage play, is inherently theatrical and compelling as a battle of wits, though its structure is fairly conventional for a prestige docudrama and its tension is somewhat telegraphed. Cinematography is competent and workmanlike under Howard's direction without being visually distinctive. Novelty is moderate — the film perfects the 'duel interview' drama format and benefits from a fascinating historical premise, but it doesn't reinvent the prestige biopic genre. The ending, capturing Nixon's partial unburdening and Frost's triumphant moment, is satisfying and emotionally resonant without being truly surprising or transcendent.