Frost/Nixon

The power of television, and one man's drive to achieve what seems like, at times, an impossible dream, are the two central themes explored in Ron Howard's enthralling drama FROST/NIXON. The impossible dream belongs to David Frost (Michael Sheen), a moderately successful English talk show host who set out to interview disgraced former president Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) following his resignation in 1974. Howard examines how Frost pulled off such an audacious achievement, and also looks at how both sides prepared for the series of interviews, which eventually transpired in 1977. The confrontation between the two is laced with tension, and the director makes it clear that both men had plenty to lose and a lot to gain, depending on who the public perceived to be in control. Langella gives a supreme performance as Nixon, easily matching Anthony Hopkins's turn as the former president in Oliver Stone's NIXON (1995). Howard's film, which is based on the play of the same name by Peter Morgan, expertly pits the two men against one another by highlighting both their strengths and weaknesses. Frost was a consummate TV host but was out of his depth in political commentary; Nixon was highly adept at avoiding direct answers to Frost's questions, but couldn't mask his sullen facial expressions from the camera. Sheen and Langella are supported by a resolutely excellent cast, and the tension builds to almost unbearable levels as the two finally sit down and discuss Nixon's career. The key scene, in which Nixon's true feelings are exposed via a simple trick--a close-up shot of the former president's sad-eyed face, clearly indicating his deep unhappiness at all his failings--is adeptly handled by Howard, and serves to highlight how vital it is for politicians to perform under the unforgiving gaze of the media.

Cast:

"FROST/NIXON is an effective, straightforward bigscreen version of Peter Morgan's shrews stage drama about the historic 1977 TV interview in which Richard Nixon brought himself down once again." -- Todd McCarthy , (Variety)

3.5 stars out of 4 -- "Start with 'magnificent' to describe Frank Langella's bone-deep performance as Nixon. It's one for the time capsule....One of the year's best films..." -- Peter Travers , (Rolling Stone)

4 stars out of 4 -- "Langella and Sheen originated these roles in the play by Peter Morgan and translate them to screen with awe-inspiring deftness. Langella's bravura performance comprises equal parts nuance, bluster and presidential stature." -- Claudia Puig , (USA Today)

"The result is involving, engrossing cinema -- more thrilling, in fact, than Howard's THE DA VINCI CODE -- filmmaking of a type rarely seen anymore and sorely missed." -- Kenneth Turan , (Los Angeles Times)

"A totally mesmerizing battle of the wills between the occasionally charming yet wily Nixon and the increasingly desperate Frost." -- Premiere Staff , (Premiere)

"The story of a duel between a crafty man and a persistent one....Frank Langella is uncanny as RMN. Ron Howard directs mercilessly." -- Roger Ebert , (Chicago Sun-Times)

4 stars out of 5 -- "Howard's confident adaptation is as much about television as it is history....Sheen's performance is magnificent, a layered hero spotted with vanity..." -- Ian Nathan , (Empire)

"FROST/NIXON, directed with practiced fluidity by Ron Howard, surges with an energy and visual verve that improve the play and enhance the themes of dramatist Peter Morgan's script..." -- Grade: A- -- Lisa Schwarzbaum , (Entertainment Weekly)

Ranked #4 in Rolling Stone's 'Movies Of The Year' -- "All the actors excel, but Langella is transcendent, a lion roaring against a lonely winter." -- Peter Travers , (Rolling Stone)

3 stars out of 5 -- "Frank Langella plays Nixon as a wounded lion with a destructive streak fuelled by self-loathing. It's a compelling performance..." -- Aubrey Day , (Total Film)

4.5 stars out of 5 -- "[T]his one finds the most compelling truths in anecdotal detail....It's a film worthy of multiple Oscar nominations, and one that probably deserves a few more in categories that don't exist." -- Ray Greene , (Box Office)

"Michael Sheen and Frank Langella, who originated the roles onstage, effectively play Frost and Nixon....Langella permits prosthetic makeup to get the Nixon jowls and gives his voice a Nixonian tenor, but otherwise his is a study in power lost and utter loneliness." -- Kirk Honeycutt , (Hollywood Reporter)

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