Don't Judge a movie by its name

Rating: 10/10 (16 December 2008)

It is hard to believe that a movie climaxing in a mere TV interview and with a title "Frost/Nixon" can be one of the most exciting movies of the year. But Nixon's and Frost's character are so well created by the script, the actors and the director that we become so drawn in and connected to them.
It begins with Frost's (a TV personality) off handed interest in Nixon. Then his ambitious plan to interview him, followed by four subsequent interviews, all in the hopes of a clear victory, which is gaining that in which no one else is able to get, an admission of guilt and wrongdoing.
It is easy to create Nixon as though he is a monster, someone inherently evil, as the perpetrator and sneak behind Watergate, as the epitome of political corruption as the bully and over dog expected to come out of the interviews, which he labels "a duel", unscathed, but the director gave him a real personal touch. Not only is he flawed, has a heavy chip on his shoulder, intensely competitive, wildly ambitious, greedy and slightly mad but he also has refinement, kind manners, compassion and even his own brand of raw, rough humor. He is his own person, idiosyncratic and despite being a former supremely controversial president, whom people are in awe of, don't know how to react to, he is a very real person. It is left open as to whether you hate him or sympathize with him for his self induced misfortune. Hate him for his corrupt misdeeds and the person who he seems to be but explored as a cause is a fascinating deep seated psychological daemon that attacks his soul thereby making this arguably evil, corrupt, leader of the free world all so human.
Frost too, although a bit of a dichotomy to Nixon, with his over eager perhaps a bit phony smile, a bright, light air and flamboyant persona, was realistically created and an interesting personality.
The vastly different personalities were an interesting aspect of the interview and were captured by the creators. The lead up to the interview and the tit for tat before the interviews was the build up. The actual interviews were so well done especially after the build up that it left you on the edge of your seat, hanging by every word. Upon YouTubing the actual interview you will be wowed as to how close the makers came to recreating history.
Despite the intensity there were some funny lighthearted moments.
You can't judge a book by its cover or a movie by its name.