The Interview...as a boxing ring

Rating: 9/10 (2 February 2009)

I'm actually old enough to JUST vaguely recall when this interview happened and the publicity surrounding it. I was a small kid at the time,and I seem to recall that David Frost had returned to American television with some sort of comedy/variety series that was set to run as a summer replacement. I even recall seeing some clips of the interview,seeing former President Nixon break down into tears when being asked if he was sorry for mistakes made.
Of course,at the time I wondered 'Whoa.I wonder what's making that grown-up cry? It must've been bad.' Keep in mind,I was starting Kindergarten that fall.
As I grew up and learned steadily more about President Nixon,the significance of this interview became much clearer. By the time the play,then the movie(both penned by Peter Morgan)came out,I was very intrigued to check this out,both as a one-time student of Politics and of Film.
Director Ron Howard takes pains to round out the story,giving both main characters a sort of "How they got here" prompting. Nixon(Frank LAngella,in a career "rocket fuel" performance that is DEFINITELY award-worthy),by 1977,had been so roundly disgraced and vilified that a "Family Feud" survey question taken circa 1975 had listed the top ten most hated and feared people. Hitler,Benedict Arnold,Stalin,Fidel Castro and Satan actually came in BEHIND Nixon,who was the number one answer. Yet,somehow,in the nearly three years since resigning the office of President,"Tricky Dick" was almost able to put WAtergate behind him and--as strange as this may sound to some--actually had designs on resurrecting his political career. About to write his memoirs and somewhat reclusive, The 37th President actually seemed to be in position to make yet another recovery.
Meanwhile,accomplished playboy TV host and one-time journalist David Frost(Michael Sheen,in a word:Excellent!)seems to be in a slump. Unable to establish shows in two continents and struggling to hold on to one in a third,his lavish,'Devil may care' lifestyle is possibly behind the eight ball,given that the money for said lifestyle is bound to run out some time. At some point after Nixon's leaving the White House,Frost gets the gutsy idea to do a sit down interview with the disgraced former President. The idea is met with cool skepticism by Frost's long-time producer and erstwhile friend(MAtthew McFayden),but Frost's determination eventually draws him a deal to get the interview. From there,he teams with a TV veteran producer(Oliver PLatt)and a vested academic(Sam Rockwell) to develop the heft and setting for this "meeting of minds".
At the onset,it would seem a mismatch:Accomplished,well-studied and masterful Nixon versus the perceived lightweight television impresario Frost. But that,needless to say,is where the story picks up.
With some nice,if perhaps easily overlooked,supporting efforts from Kevin Bacon(as Nixon's loyal,Post-Presidency aide),Rebecca HAll(as Frost's love interest at the time who would eventually be his wife)and Toby Jones(as eccentric literary agent Irving "Swifty" Lazar),the assemblage of actors all hit their notes more than adequately(if perhaps somewhat ham-fisted at points). The movie's principle strength is in the verbal jousting between the two main figures:crisp and humored,yet always bristling with some element of attack or defense. Fortunately,the movie leaves the meat of the story in this very element.
I've read some thread posters on this sight use such dismissive language of this film as "Who cares about Nixon?" and "Why does this matter?". Some years ago(pre-G.W.Bush,mostly),I would've been more inclined to jump in proclaim something to the tune of "THe President isn't above the law and Nixon should be an example of why",with more enthusiasm and passion. Lately,I've come to believe that a play/movie like Frost/Nixon serves more of two things: a study in how arrogance,from anyone,can be one's downfall and that even something as seemingly mannered and civilized as an interview can actually be as savage and brutal as any brawl or type of hand-to-hand combat. Anything more is probably subjective.