Frost/Nixon is a film adaptation of a play of the same name by Peter Morgan. The story follows journalist David Frost from the conception of his idea to interview the recently resigned president, Richard Nixon, through the negotiation and planning stages to the final completion and reception of the interview. The film is directed by Ron Howard and produced by umbrella companies of Universal Pictures.
The Film is a true docudrama of the events surrounding the interviews, and it is important to keep in mind that it is not entirely documentary nor entirely drama. Howard presents the film as a sort of documentary about the interview, but uses actors for both the interviews and the dramatic scenes. Frank Langella and Michael Sheen are phenomenal as Nixon and Frost respectively, and their performances are what ultimately make the film a success.
Ron Howard's New Film Takes Historical Liberties
With any period piece or dramatic historical narrative, writers must do their best to "fill in the blanks," so to speak, with things like dialogue and characters' thoughts and feelings. Oftentimes, off-record dialogue and conversation is based on the writer's best guess or hearsay at best, and this film is no different. Private conversations between Nixon and Frost which may or may not be entirely historically accurate often drive the action of the movie, but make for good entertainment either way.
The film seems to have a sympathetic take on both David Frost and Richard Nixon. Frost is portrayed as the perpetual underdog who refuses to believe his dreams are too big, while Nixon is characterized as a quick witted, altruistic old man who was the victim of unfortunate circumstances. The film deals very little with Nixon's actual crimes and their effects on the country, and focuses more on the interview itself and the dynamics between the two men and their respective teams of advisers. In fact, only about a quarter of the film deals with Nixon's downfalls as a president, which is ironically the same amount of time the real-life interview did. That may just be a coincidence.
Technical Aspects of Frost/Nixon
Ron Howard did a terrific job of setting the tone of the film using subtle visual cues, such as the use of muted colors in wardrobe and set design, giving the film a subdued and dated look. The camera work was very traditional and straight forward, which helped make it feel more like a documentary, and also helped augment the combative relationship between the two main characters. Consistency of style is paramount in films of this nature, and Ron Howard did an excellent job of stylistically walking the line between fact and fiction.
The main downfall of the film comes from the writing. Kevin Bacon's character, although well acted, often seems like an afterthought that was written in or fleshed out for dramatic purposes. Nixon seems a little too endearing at times, and during some parts of the film it feels as though he is more of an ousted comedian than a former president. Luckily the acting helps cover up the shortcomings of the script.
In Conclusion
Overall, Frost/Nixon was a welcomed diversion from action-packed blockbusters and inane children's movies. Ron Howard has put together another thrilling depiction of an important American historical event that is sure to thrill history buffs and entertain drama fiends alike. The acting is superb, and the presentation is careful to showcase it rather than distract from it.
