Poll Position: Frost/Nixon (2008)

Last week's poll was a bit of an odd one. We decided to choose movies based on the man that everyone is only a few connections away from, Kevin Bacon. Oddly though, his best known movies that we also hadn't seen weren't necessarily starring him, as is the case with Frost/Nixon. Bacon plays the role of Nixon's right hand man, always looking out for his best interests. But the movie itself is really all about David Frost and Richard Nixon, and the interviews they had together. I had heard about this film before, and I'd heard good things. That had me looking forward to watching this particular movie. But did that raise my expectations too high? Hit the jump to find out if I enjoyed what I saw, or was bored to sleep.


For those who don't know, David Frost, who is played by Michael Sheen, is a TV talk show personality. He's not a reporter or a journalist, just a talk show host looking for ratings. After the Watergate scandal, Nixon (Frank Langella) resigns from the Presidency, but never admits to doing anything wrong. Not long after that, President Ford gives Nixon a full pardon, meaning there would never be a trial against him. David Frost gets the idea to interview Nixon to get some of the largest ratings he has ever heard of. The only problem, is to get the interviews, he has to promise to pay Nixon $600,000.00 and to get that he has to get advertising. Of course, the only way to sell the show to get the advertising is if he can somehow get a confession of guilt out of the former President of the United States of America. And that certainly won't be easy.

Nixon (Frank Langella) and Frost (Michael Sheen) are about to do battle

Even though this entire movie is about a series of interviews, everything about it is set up to mimic a prize fight. Even the title of the film is like a title card declaring the names of the fighters. The interviews are like a series of punches, with their points and questions, jabs and comebacks seeming to really beat down their opponent. Comparisons to fighting are constantly made, such as Nixon telling Frost the interviews should be "no holds barred" and even referring to him as an opponent. During the interviews, breaks have to be taken as the recording tapes run low and have to be swapped, and both Nixon and Frost have men to come in and give them pep talks in how they were doing and how to proceed. It's almost exactly like watching boxing, and it's definitely a case of who will win and who will lose.

The acting in the film was superb. Both Langella and Sheen do fantastic jobs as the two title characters. Frank Langella in particular does an amazing job as Richard Nixon, elevating it far above a simple impression, and well into great acting territory, being able to not only pull off the look and sound of Nixon, but expressing believable emotions while doing it. Michael Sheen doesn't really come out from under his shell until late in the game, but his character finally gets serious at the end and that's when we really see him shine. I suppose I should mention that Kevin Bacon also did a good job. After all, we're supposedly watching this movie for him.

As it turns out, it was a very good thing that I saw All the President's Men earlier this year, because it ties directly into this film. If I hadn't, I think I'd be quite lost at parts, and I probably would have very little idea who Charles Colson was, and his name pops up a few times in this movie too. There are other details concerning Watergate that also pop up, which before seeing All the President's Men I honestly wouldn't have known. That might be recommended viewing before you see this one.

I was surprised at how intense the film got. For a film just about two people talking, it was a lot more interesting, and even almost exciting during the actual interviews. It's a battle of wits and words, and I actually learned quite a bit more about the whole Nixon situation. I also liked that they didn't just treat him as a bad guy, and you can kinda see him more as an imperfect human being, just like anyone. If you're interested in political movies, you've likely already seen this one, but if not, why haven't you? If this is at all near your interests, this is probably a movie you should rush out to see however you can.