FROST/NIXON
FROST/NIXON |
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Three years after Richard Nixon left office in disgrace, a relatively unkown British talk show host secured his first interview. The gloves were off. | score 4 |
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| Cast Michael Sheen, Frank Langella, Oliver Platt, Sam Rockwell, Matthew Macfadyen, Kevin Bacon, Toby Jones Director Ron Howard Screenwriter Peter Morgan Country USA / UK Rating / Running Time M / 122 minutes Australian Release December 2008 Official Site (c) moviereview
2006-2008
ABN 72 775 390 361 |
Three
years after the second least popular president in American history left
office, he sat down to face a largely unknown British talk-show host.
What an unrepentant Richard Nixon didn’t know was that this
interview would capture the largest news audience in the history of
American television. More than 45 million people tuned in for a glimpse
of the truth and, maybe, a confession. Ron Howard’s thrilling documentary-styled drama charts the space in-between Nixon’s impeachment and the moment the world saw him stumble. That electrifying instant was caught by David Frost (Michael Sheen), a self-promoting entertainer who understood the power of the close-up. And what a close-up: an unforgettable moment as Nixon (Frank Langella) is all writhing pain and self-loathing. Peter Morgan (The Last King of Scotland) adapted his own stage play for Howard who brings all cannons to bear on a story that has the native appeal of stale toast: two men in chairs lacks the immediate entertainment value of, say, troublesome moon rockets. Yet the games played between a scorned Commander and his gristly opponent take on the scope of a politicised version of the fight between Ali and Frazier. Both are driven by their universal desire to be loved in a game only one man will win. “Our tragedy is that no matter how high we get, they look down on us,” says an uncharacteristically candid Nixon. Langella’s Oscar worthy performance is mesmerising; Michael Sheen (memorable as The Queen’s Tony Blair) is no less magnetic. Both are given muscular support from staffers Matthew Macfadyen, Oliver Platt and Sam Rockwell for the left, Toby Jones and Kevin Bacon for the right. However Frost/Nixon rises above inevitable partisan power play to become an emotional boxing match in its study of need. It is a deceptively juicy film that runs straight for the audience while reaching for the jugular. // COLIN FRASER |