Frost/Nixon

The moment I saw a commercial for this film, I knew that I had to see it. I loved Peter Morgan’s work on “The Queen” and I am a fan of Ron Howard, Michael Sheen and others. On the occasion of a visit to Calgary, I took some time to see “Frost/Nixon”. I was blown away by the powerful drama that it was; a film that seemed to come out of nowhere with no big advertizing as apposed to other dramas. I see it as a combination of “Cinderella Man”, “The Queen” and “Apollo 13”. I tend on mentioning the boxing analogy a lot to prove my points. I was pretty disappointed that it was rated R because this film would have worked as for a PG-13 audience if it had been tweaked a bit. The play has been well adapted and the entire cast is very good. It doesn’t feel like a low budget film.

The story is full of tension and drama that is fiction in a few parts but true in other parts. As Peter Morgan said, it is a boxing match of words. I like how Peter Morgan highlighted the supporting characters and what they are thinking by portraying them as being interviewed after the movie’s main story has taken place. As a result while watching the events unfold, we know the characters' thoughts and we have some narration to lead us throughout the film. David Frost at first is after the popularity of the idea of interviewing Richard Nixon because of the number of people that watched the farewell speech. He wants that kind of audience in his career and he also wants success back in the US. Nixon looks at the interview as a duel, maybe to intimidate Frost or to make the interview more successful. I tend to feel that the phone call between Frost and Nixon contains the answer. Nixon wants out of retirement and needs an opponent worthy of helping him do that. The first thing that Nixon notices about Frost when they first meet is his shoes. Nixon is looking out the window and when we see his POV, Frost’s shoes are coming out of the vehicle. The subsequent scene when Frost is writing the $200,000 check is full of tension because of looks from John and also because of the knowledge that we have of Frost’s difficulties with the networks. We have music to increase this tension that lasts from the moment the payment is mentioned to when Nixon insists that the check be made out to him. The cutoff of the music makes that moment of particular interest. Nixon in the film is made out to be a man and not as a villain. When he finds out that the interview may not happen despite having just received $200,000, Nixon is not without heart as he expresses his mild guilt to Jack Brennan. Frost is the protagonist obviously but Nixon is a tragic figure, not evil. He has goals in the story but because of his flaws, he fails to fully achieve them. Jim Reston’s introduction is great because of his desire for Nixon’s conviction and we think that Frost will reject him but at the same time we are unsurprised when Frost keeps him on. Jim’s passion is what Frost needs. I love the joke that Nixon pulls on Jack about sending spies in on Frost. We also fall for it. Frost’s team wants to bring Nixon down and Nixon’s team are trying to rebuild his reputation. Hence the stare down of Frost’s “corner men” with Nixon’s is such a great moment on the first interview day. It seems Nixon’s team knows that they are going to win. That whole sequence showing the first interview day is so well written and portrayed. There is a wonderful build up with music and dialogue from the establishing shot of “Day 1” to when Frost asks, “Why didn’t you burn the tapes?” Another great line that we almost fail to take notice of is Nixon saying, “But the television and the close up, they create their own sets of meanings.” This is foreshadowing what happens on the final interview day. It is fitting that when Nixon is saying that, we are seeing him on a TV screen in the interview room with him and Frost in the background.

The boxing metaphor in the film is fully pointed out at the perfect time by Jack as was done in the play. The tape change is like the end of round one when the coaches have their words with the boxers. Another great reference to boxing is after the Vietnam interview when Bob says the phrases like “beats him up” and “It ain’t gonna be pretty.” I also like in that particular sequence when Nixon says, “Daddy, you’re the finest man I know.” Jim’s reaction is perfect when we cut to Team Frost. Preceding all this on that day of filming is a moment when the light bulb explodes. It is worth noting that the person who reacts least is Nixon. The music cut off makes us uneasy. Nixon is in full control of the situation at this point. From what I understand, this event actually occurred. I laugh at Jim and Bob Zelnick during Frost’s birthday party because they are star struck. We then have that pivotal scene when Nixon after having a few drinks calls Frost late at night. In real life, Nixon did make drunken late night phone calls in office and staff members had to be aware of that. Nixon explains the similarity they have on the phone. These men have something to prove and there is something they both want back: the success they have lost in America. "Rocky Balboa" has a similar subtext. The second time there is a chance for a stare down between both Frost and Nixon’s teams, it is on the final interview day when Team Nixon doesn’t acknowledge the other team. Is it because they have been pumped up like Team Frost? We come to find out that no, it must have been because they feel they have already triumphed. They want to just get the final day over with. Nixon during the final round is unaware of Frost’s preparedness due to fact that he has forgotten the phone call. Frost’s interrogation does feel more like a lawyer talking than an interviewer. Nixon did say at some point in the real interview “…when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.” We also saw this moment in the television previews for the movie. It takes on whole new meaning & power however once you experience it in the film itself because of where that line is used and because of Frost's reaction. I felt such a tension in the theater at this moment and there was a release of that tension when Nixon adds: "But I realize no one else shares that view". The audience laughed but not just because of the obvious nature of the line but also because the audience needed to discharge its anxiety. Then comes the explosive moment when Jack sabotages the interview. Of course, it never happened during the real interview but that is my favorite moment in the movie because it causes the tension floodgates to burst for our characters. The ironic thing is that it is one of Nixon’s men that wants to “throw in the towel”. Frost is winning the final round hands down. Even Frost’s team is surprised by how suddenly they now have the upper hand. Once it is agreed that the interview will resume, they give some final desperate words to Frost almost as if they don’t know how to deal with this upper hand. We all wonder whether things will continue just as good as before. Nixon has had such control for almost all the movie that this payoff at the end is extremely dramatic and powerful. Nixon’s question after returning is a good one and it is from the actual interview. Frost replies just as powerfully by dropping his clipboard, which he really did. Much of the final inteview sequence is as it was in real life, with more dramatic undertones of course. The reaction of the characters to Nixon’s final words mirrors our reaction because I was close to tears myself when I first saw "Frost/Nixon". Thus begins a great diminuendo in the movie. The choice of music to portray Frost’s regained success was perfect. The Italian shoes come symbolize Nixon’s underestimation of Frost. Just as he underestimated Frost, he judges his shoes. Frost ends up misinterpreted Nixon’s comments about the shoes. Why did Frost not tell Nixon about what they really talked about on the phone? Because Frost has accomplished his goal and he wants to leave on the best note possible. He has pity for this tragic figure and so do we.

The adaptation of this film from the play and the casting is quite perfect. Frank Langella and Michael Sheen reprise their roles that they had on the stage flawlessly. Langella's performance as Nixon is not a pure impersonation but he sure does have Nixon’s smile down among other things. I wanted him to win the Oscar very badly. Kevin Bacon plays a relatable antagonist very well. All of the supporting cast members are memorable in this movie and play their parts beautifully. As I said, this film is an amalgamation of “Cinderella Man”, “The Queen” and “Apollo 13”. “Frost/Nixon” has boxing references and “Cinderella Man” is another Ron Howard film. Peter Morgan’s work on this film has relation to the story he portrayed on “The Queen” and that film starred Michael Sheen as well. This film takes place in the 70’s just like Ron Howard’s film “Apollo 13” and returning to work for him in “Frost/Nixon” are Kevin Bacon, his brother Clint Howard & many others who were in that 1995 film. Ron Howard’s direction is quite good in this movie and he deserved his Oscar nomination. The montage during the opening credits and Richard’s Nixon’s actual voice create realism. The interview shots of the various supporting characters also add to the realism. Establishing shots are sometimes special effects like 1970’s London & Plaza Hotel in NYC and these special effects are seamless. The phone call scene was filmed as if it was being performed on stage with Frank Langella actually talking to Michael Sheen while both of them are being filmed. I love how when Jim arrives back in LA and he smiles just as the door closes. Things are looking up for the underdogs thanks to this little touch from Howard. Another artistic choice by Howard is during the final interview when there are very few shots of the “corner men” as opposed to the many we saw on other interview days. It is just Frost and Nixon’s dramatic exchange that demands our attention. Camera shots are sometimes out of focus at the start and that is artistically appealing. Also as I have mentioned, the music is well composed and well handled. Hans Zimmer’s score has intensity throughout. No wonder it was a hard score for him to write and it is one of my favorites. When I first saw this movie, I did not recognize future Oscar winner Sam Rockwell. I first took notice of him on "The Green Mile" and he plays a very different character on that show. He is a talented guy. I also didn't recognize Oliver Platt who I saw as a child on "Beethoven".

Coincidentally, I once watched this movie on September 1st, 2012 and David Frost passed away exactly one year later to the day. The week that Frost died in 2013, I had planned beforehand to watch this film anyways. It is unfortunate that “Slumdog Millionaire” came out in the same year as this movie. Out of all the Oscar nominations that “Frost/Nixon” had, Frank Langella was the person that deserved to win but didn’t. When I mention the film to others, the general response is “I still need to see that.” I feel that response represents the public’s mind. I would hope that the film's impact doesn’t die but remains constant because it deserves that. The adaptation and acting are well done. Everytime I show this movie to friends, they are unprepared for how dramatic it is. I am glad that I saw it in the theaters and own it on DVD. It is one of my favorite films based on a true story.

4.5 Stars out of 5