71 out of 75 people found the following review helpful:

Brilliant

A Customer from Winchester, 18th January, 2009

I wasn't expecting too much from this movie, which depicts events that occurred just outside my political radar as I was too hormonal at the time and so the 'momentousness' of the occasion passed me by. Add to that I have always found 'Frostie' to be smarmy and overrated and the idea of a movie all about an interview seemed to hold out the possibility I was going to fall asleep pretty quickly. Often low expectations are the best way to see a movie, and I was instantly absorbed by the authentic 70s atmosphere that was created and of the hints at all the political intrigue taking place, with more than a few parallels with the Bush administration. Performances were slightly understated, which turned out to be just the right approach and by the end of the movie I was fully ready to be convinced I was actually watching Frost and Nixon. I have also revised my opinion of Frostie following this, incidentally; flawed he may be but I have a new respect for this achievement at least. Now I have to watch the original and read everything I can find to fill in the inevitable gaps left by a 2 hr movie, and of course then to watch it again on DVD when it comes out so I can pause it now and then. After I watch it again maybe 5 stars?

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22 out of 23 people found the following review helpful:

The power of the close up

Daniel Pollard from Manchester, England, 17th February, 2009

Fascinating new film from mainstream filmmaker Ron Howard about the media event of the 20th century watched by over 400 million people worldwide. The film follows entertainer, performer and playboy David Frost in his quest to become a serious journalist by interviewing the recently disgraced Richard Nixon. Nixon, the only American president ever to resign from office, wants to find a way back east to Washington from his self imposed exile in California, accepts the offer of an interview believing Frost to be a soft touch. The resulting 2 hours feature Frost and his meetings with his researchers and producers, advertisers and of course, with Nixon himself. The film as a whole works on may levels with a perfect balance of political intrigue, humour and tension. Howard’s direction is unfussy and concentrates on the close ups of Frost and especially Nixon in an essentially televisual manner. My only criticisms are aimed at the background of the Watergate scandal, which is never probably explained; although I do appreciate the film is solely about Frost and Nixon and on that basis I can cope with the fact that Frost’s love interest, played by Rebecca Hall is underwritten.

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21 out of 22 people found the following review helpful:

Oscar Hype

A Customer from London, 27th January, 2009

Every year a bunch of serious dramas get released in the run up to the Academy awards. And every a year at least one film gets over rated in all the hype. Frost/Nixon is this years film. Don't get me wrong, Frank Langella's performance makes it well worth watching. But (Sam Rockwell aside) the supporting actors are either blindly cast (Toby Jones is slapped into just about everything these days and played a similar role in 'W') or as in the case of Micheal Sheen, they are out right cringeworthy. Sheen's impersonation is impresive in one way, but that's what it is - an impersonation, not an actor's dramatisation. It's a blend of David Frost sure, with the winks to camera feel of Austin Powers and Alan Partridge so inappropriate against Langella's triumph. Ron Howard too, true to form, wastes the rich material. Both he and the film have stolen - Watergate style, 'The Wrestler's rightful place at the Oscar's. In my humble opinion, You're better off watching Oliver Stone's brilliant 'Nixon'

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15 out of 18 people found the following review helpful:

A film about an interview? Yes, and it keeps you entertained from start till finish

A Customer from Croydon, 27th January, 2009

Previous to watching this I had never seen the interviews before. But that did not matter as the film gathers momentum from the start leading to the confrontation of these two men, both in it to win it, the looser would fall to their peril. And wow did the film deliver, the interview itself felt more like a boxing match, each of them brutualy going for each other. The film even shows different sides of the two men showing a deeper side to them both. I thoroughly enjoyed this and recommend to all, political or not you will enjoy this very well made film.

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Well worth watching

Helen Bulford from Middx, 7th November, 2009

Facinating. A great character study of both Nixon and David Frost.

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Highly recommended

Jollyjambo from , 5th November, 2009

This is a very tense and dramatic film that will have you on the edge of your seat. It is based on a series of interviews between David Frost and Richard Milhouse Nixon in 1977 and the events that led up to them. This was three years after Nixon was forced to resign as the 37th President of the USA following the Watergate scandal. The film was directed by Ron Howard and stars Frank Langella as Nixon and Michael Sheen as David Frost. The actors don’t look that much like the people they are portraying but they do seem to get the mannerisms incredibly right and you stop noticing that it isn't the real people. It gives a fantastic insight into two driven men who in reality are both deeply flawed individuals. In the end you may not like them very much but you might just have to admire them a bit for what they had achieved. When Nixon resigned he was pardoned of all crimes by the new incoming President Gerald Ford. Many people in America and the rest of the World felt cheated that Nixon never stood trial for the things he had done. This was not limited to Watergate but included the covert campaigns that he approved as part of the war in Vietnam and the bombing of innocent civilians in neutral Cambodia. Frost was a British talk show host and light entertainer who had the idea of letting the world hear Nixon’s justifications for his actions. There were many political correspondents, particularly in America, who wanted to interview Nixon but the Networks wouldn’t pay for the privilege of interviewing him. Frost was willing to pay and Nixon also thought that he would get an easier time from a British talk show host than he would from an experience American political commentator. For a variety of reasons the US TV Networks wouldn’t support Frost and he nearly bankrupted himself and quite a few of his friends setting up the interviews. Without any buyers in place Frost knew that the material would need to be really good to enable him to sell it. Nixon however was the master politician and could talk for hours in a way that showed him in a good light. It is likely that some events in the film may have been slightly changed to achieve dramatic effect and there are those that claim that Nixon agreed to ‘tell the truth’ rather than having it drawn out of him by Frost’s questioning. None of this really matters. Nixon’s actual statements are accurately reported and still have the ability to shock today. An excellent film and highly recommended.

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convincing film

A Customer from Crewe, 3rd November, 2009

I really enjoyed this film, and it was good to get what I believe to be an informed view of US political events that I didn't really take much notice of at the time. Couldn't really see David Frost in Michael Sheen's performance though, felt he wasn't quite right for the part.

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Good film worth watching

A Customer from South Molton, 2nd November, 2009

Amazing performance from Frank Langella as Nixon, managing to elicit some sympathy for 'Tricky Dicky'. Michael Sheen cleverly understates his David Frost, no caricature. Tension really builds once the interviews start.

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