The Story of a Confession

Rating: 7/10 (24 March 2009)

I'm not sure how America looks at Nixon now. I was not aware that Nixon confessed to his countrymen in his interview to Frost. Confession does not undo the wrongs but is still indicative of integrity, or at least leftover integrity, especially when coming from men of highest offices. I say this because my own country has such a long list of scandals, scams, corruption and moral impropriety from politicians and bureaucrats, that it's people have grown almost immune. And, nobody expects that anybody will ever confess anything, even if convicted. At least I don't remember any. The closing scenes of Frost/Nixon show the courage it takes for Nixon to confess and how it drains him completely at the end. But at least, coming out of the interview, I guess, he would have been at last at peace with himself.
Frost/Nixon is a part fictional and part factual intense drama. It is told primarily from Frost's angle. More time is spent on showing us his background, preparation and events. That may have been because there is already so much said about Nixon, this film too spending time on him would not have added anything new. As a result, the film is also about how his interview with Nixon catapults Frost into the big league.
Ron Howard is a great director. He, assisted by his editor, brings in pace and drama to the film. He uses documentary-style participant interviews placed throughout the film. These characters look back at the events leading up to the interview and the interview itself and comment. They provide the footnotes to the main content.
The film hinges on solid performances from Frank Langella and Michael Sheen. Langella brings out so many facets of Nixon's character. We see varieties of Nixon's confidence - ingrained, faked and lost. He is cool, impulsive, outraged, frustrated, calculative and manipulative. Langella lives his character. Sheen brings in a strange mix of cockiness and uncertainty to the role of Frost.
Not to be missed.