Langella is astonishing in this fascinating film

Rating: 8/10 (21 February 2009)

After resigning the Presidency, Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) lived a life of silence. He never spoke about his misdeeds, and he seemed to want to just leave the life behind. Enter David Frost (Michael Sheen), a British talk show host who botched his job in the US and is now syndicated in Australia. He gets the great idea to interview Nixon about his life and the scandals that plagued his presidency. But no one really wants to go for it. But Frost never loses hope, and eventually the interviews are set.
The entirety of the film is a mix of fact and fiction-style storytelling leading up, obviously, to the legendary interviews between Nixon and Frost. But even if part of it never actually happened, there is still some rather fascinating film-making going on here.
I am not usually a fan of Ron Howard, but coupled with Peter Morgan (who also made a very interesting story out of The Queen a few years ago), he is practically on fire. Here is a movie that could have just been a biographical-esquire piece laced with boring, uninteresting Oscar-baiting material. But instead, it makes even the tiniest of details seem important and worthwhile. From courting Nixon to researching material to coax answers out of the man, Howard and Morgan have crafted something surprisingly well done and all the more relevant for the times (as another disgraced President was in the process of leaving at the time of the film's release).
The filmmakers seem to have an eye for detail, and every costume and set looks straight out of the 1970's. Even for someone who was not even alive at that point in history, looking at the sheer production design of the picture is a clear mark of accuracy. The harsh and minimalist style lighting make the film look like it was even made at that time, instead of in 2008. The immense amount of smoking done by characters is also a nice touch, and hearkens back to the days of All the President's Men, and puts it right firmly beside it as a piece of historical fiction.
Sadly, the film follows the historical fiction genre a little too close, and frequently drags itself out longer than it needs to. I was interested throughout the film, but felt it frequently drifted away from its point. If it stayed on course throughout, I think it could have been a real candidate in the big race, as opposed to being merely a good film.
Although it is not entirely unique, the film loops in character testimonials every few scenes to help accentuate both the bit players in the film, and help with the historical accuracy. It almost makes the film transcend its status of merely being a dramatization with a heavy amount of fictional elements, to being a full blown recreation of the actual events. Again, it makes the film feel authentic, and gives it a documentary style feel, almost like the camera is an unacknowledged film-making team keeping an eye on both camps in order to make a film like this years later.
The supporting characters are given quite a bit to do, but never get any real time focused on them. But with the small amount they do get, they help complement the film in a way that would have made the film far too boring if it was a two-man show. Matthew Macfadyen, Oliver Platt and especially Sam Rockwell are excellent in their roles as Frost's researchers. Macfadyen continues to prove why he should be miles further ahead in his Hollywood career, and Platt was as good as he was here. Rockwell, a heavily underrated actor, gives a flavor to his performance that makes it distinctively unique. Coupled along with his raucous performance in Choke, he is slowly on his way to making a stronger name for himself. I can only hope he is up at the Oscars with a nomination in a few years. Being an almost totally obscure character actor can only work for someone this good for so long.
Surprisingly, Nixon's side gets very little material between them, other than the blink and you will miss it performance by the always reliable Toby Jones, and from Kevin Bacon. Yes, Bacon is the punchline of a lot of jokes (and even has that incredibly amusing "Six Degrees" game basically dedicated to him), but he is rather slowly making his rounds into becoming a great actor. It took a long time, but with his small role here, he seems to be on to something. Just watching him emote in his small amount of scenes is just great.
Of course, the heavy hitters are the best thing about the movie.
Langella's portrayal of Nixon is just astonishing. He has the man down to the most minute of details, and watching him recreate Nixon's history making scenes is downright chilling. He is that close to the man in his performance. Yes, he may still look like Frank Langella under the makeup (and is evidently taller too), but it would be very hard to tell the man apart from the real thing if he was still living. If Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke were not already battling it out, Langella would have been the obvious Best Actor of the year.
Sheen unfortunately, has to compensate for how towering Langella is in his performance. He does a fabulous job playing the man who is trying to measure up to greatness, but he looks visually like he is putting in too much effort. It looks like it will be a running schtick for him (as he was the same in The Queen), but he makes the most of it anyway, and delivers a wonderful performance, miles ahead of everyone else.
Frost/Nixon is a good and fascinating film, but it could have been stronger. Langella's performance is nothing short of astonishing.
8/10.