Frost/Nixon

Frank Langella gives his best performance, and admittedly puts Anthony Hopkins' portrayal to shame in Frost/Nixon, the story of David Frost's interviews with Richard Nixon that was one of the most watched television events in history. Although some parts are fabricated (believe me, you'll realize which ones), this is a fairly accurate portrayal of the events that happened.

Michael Sheen, (great as Tony Blair in "The Queen") plays David Frost as something of a careless playboy at the beginning, but then the movie suddenly jerks him as becoming a determined, righteous man towards the end. He probably was both at one point or another, but most definitely not over the course of 3 or so months. However, Sheen is excellent, and together the two lead performances are most definitely the best part of the movie.

The film's plot is simple: Richard Nixon is disgraced by Watergate and his resignation. The American public is dissatisfied by Gerald Ford's pardon of Nixon, and want a confession. Talk show host David Frost decides to try and take Nixon on for an interview. History is made.

The problem lies in two factors. One, it has been built up for so long as the awards messiah, and it's a letdown. Two, it's far too pedestrian, too 'been there, done that'. Nothing truly feels surprising. The film's best moments are during the interviews, where the two actors truly shine.

The script, although mildly cliched, is actually pretty witty and occasionally funny. As said before, Langella and Sheen are both excellent. Langella makes Nixon quite human, not the monster portrayed in so many other movies. Although it's inconsistent and disappointing, it's good entertainment. Just don't expect it to sweep the Oscars. B-