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Frost/Nixon
by Universal Studios
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$19.98 |
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$18.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. |
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DVD
Universal Studios
Publisher: Universal Studios
Ron Howard
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Actors: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Sam Rockwell, Kevin Bacon, Matthew Macfadyen
From Academy Award-winning director Ron Howard comes the electrifying, untold story behind one of the most unforgettable moments in history. When disgraced President Richard Nixon agreed to an interview with jet-setting television personality, David Frost, he thought he’d found the key to saving his tarnished legacy. But, with a name to make and a reputation to overcome, Frost became one of Nixon’s most formidable adversaries and engaged the leader in a charged battle of wits that changed the face of politics forever. Featuring brilliant portrayals by Frank Langella and Michael Sheen, Frost/Nixon is the fascinating and suspenseful story of truth, accountability, secrets and lies.
Sounds like a good match: a historical drama from the author of The Queen, but with an American subject in the generational wheelhouse of director Ron Howard. And so Peter Morgan's Tony-winning play morphs into a Hollywood movie under the wing of the Apollo 13 guy. Morgan's subject is a curious moment of post-Watergate shakeout: British TV host David Frost's long-form interviews with ex-President Richard Nixon, conducted in 1977. It was a big ratings success at the time, justifying the somewhat controversial decision to cut an enormous check for Nixon's services. The movie adds a mockumentary note to the otherwise straightforward style, having direct-to-camera addresses from various aides to Frost and Nixon (played by the likes of Oliver Platt, Sam Rockwell, and Kevin Bacon); these basically tell us things we already glean from the rest of the movie, adding unnecessary melodrama and upping the stakes. In this curious scheme, the success of Frost's career, which could bellyflop if he doesn't get something worthwhile out of the cagey, long-winded Nixon, is given somewhat more weight than the actual revelations of the interviews. Even with these questionable storytelling decisions, there's still the spectacle of two actors going at it hammer and tongs, and on that level the movie offers some heat. Michael Sheen, who played Tony Blair not only in The Queen but also in another Morgan-scripted project, The Deal, is adept at catching David Frost's blow-dried charm, as well as the determination beneath it. Frank Langella's physical performance as Nixon is superb, and he certainly can be a commanding actor, though veteran Nixon-watchers might find that he misses a certain depth of self-pity in the man. Both actors were retained from the original stage production, a rare thing in Hollywood--and probably Howard's best decision of the project. --Robert Horton
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| Great film |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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"Frost/Nixon" is a very well done film directed by Ron Howard that explores the post-Watergate interviews of Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) conducted by British television host David Frost (Michael Sheen). The film chronicles Frost's desperate attempts to land and finance the interviews, as well as his poor preparation for the first three sessions, which are completely monopolized by Nixon. Frost finally gets his act together by the time it's time to discuss Watergate, and the interview ends up being one of the most successful pieces in all of television history.
I really enjoyed the film. Excellent performances by Sheen and Langella are supported by a wonderful cast that includes liver Platt, Sam Rockwell, and Kevin Bacon. I definitely recommend this film to any political junkie.
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| Always a good storyteller |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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It took me a while to get to this movie. Living thru those days was enough. But Howard does engage us, and gets us to take another look at a fascinating time.
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| Entertaining Piece of History |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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Frost/Nixon is a film about one snippet of Nixon's life after he stepped down from the presidency. In that small piece of time we are entertained by Frank Langella's interpetation of Nixon. He captures Nixon's complexities in adroit and deeply personal way.
The movie is simple quality and succeeds by not trying to cover everything in Nixon's life, but shows a Nixon, wanting to change perceptions of his Presidency, adapting to retirement as he grieves his loss of powerful and social status.
Michael Sheen plays David Frost, a smooth and dapper playboy interviewer who interviews Nixon in 1977. Frank Langella's Nixon at first does not seem like Nixon, but as the movie goes on, you feel he actually is Nixon. He catches nuances and delivers on the awkward social presence, the ego and self-centeredness, as well as a his pride and arrogance. The acting is superb, especially in the last half of the movie when the interview debate is one-on-one between Frost and Nixon.
Nixon agreed to have Frost interview him to set the story straight and let the public know all the good he did. He felt he could easily use Frost, who proposed this idea, as he was just a entertaining talk show host - not a heavy-weight interviewer. Frost was all this, but he was enchanted and determined to interview Nixon from the moment he resigned office. He wanted to hear Nixon admit his guilt and he wanted to be the man to do it. Frost was not doing well in the 1970's - his career was at a low-point, doing a talk show in Australia, showing magicians escaping from different types of traps. No network or large company wanted to back him on this project, so Frost ended up paying a good part of Nixon's $600,0000 fee. Nixon kept tabs on how desperate Frost was, where he was getting his money and constantly sizing up the situation.
Frost's advisers (Oliver Platt and Sam Rockwell), are upset when Frost cannot control the first interviews (there are 4 in all - taped over a period of days - each interview on one subject). Nixon takes a topic and runs away with his spin on the issues, knowing full well he is an expert on evading questions. He plays mind games with Frost before the interviews and is cunning on how he handles the beginning interviews. Frost is helpless as Nixon dominates the conversation.
Ron Howard directed this movie and with this excellent group of actors developed a Shakespearean masterpiece. The material is strong and the movie is fast and entertaining.
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| deserving of all the attention |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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For those that were around in the early 70's, Frost/Nixon does a GREAT job detailing the events of the Nixon administration and the Watergate scandal (the latter which receives the most attention in the story-telling).
For those of you that WEREN'T around back then (like myself) you will learn a LOT about the Nixon scandal.
The flow of the story-telling can best be described like this- the first half of the movie deals with a British guy named David Frost, detailing how Frost went about getting the opportunity to interview Richard Nixon and ask the most serious questions of all during a face-to-face, sit-down interview.
The questions most Americans wanted answers to at the time is displayed accurately in the movie by Frost's character. He held absolutely *nothing* back during the interview, making Nixon extremely uncomfortable, and that's why we remember David Frost today.
The second half of the film deals with, of course, the lengthy interview segments themselves, but these interviews are NOT done in a boring way. Far from it in fact.
It's the EMOTION during these sit down interviews that truly makes the film remarkable (and deserving of all those awards it won last year). The way you, the viewer, becomes attached to every word coming out of Frost and Nixon's mouth EVEN if you don't consider yourself someone who has a serious interest in politics, is what makes the film so good.
As much attention David Frost receives is perhaps even more than the amount Nixon receives. I'm surprised the movie writers chose to focus so much on David Frost and less on Nixon.
Everything you wanted to know about the Watergate scandal is presented here, and done correctly and accurately. Not much discussion over Vietnam however, but enough to satisfy me.
Anyway, the actor who plays Nixon looks JUST like him, and acts like him as well (and GREAT job imitating Nixon's voice!) Great performances by all the characters. You don't necessarily have to follow politics hard and heavy in order to follow along to Frost/Nixon, and because of that, I recommend everyone watch it. Without giving anything away, you will see a shocking side of Richard Nixon during a few segments.
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| The Infamous Nixion Interview That Shocked The World. |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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Politically intriguing as the film and its actors really have captured the mood of the 70's after the Watergate incident. The film pretty much portrays very closely (if not exactly) to the original Frost/Nixon tapes although in the film, it does not go into vivid detail on every topic that was originally discussed in the real interview but that is hardly a flaw for a great film. The casts of the film did brilliantly portraying figures of the past, most notably Frank Langella as Nixon and Michael Sheen as Frost. Despite the lack of action sequences, this film surprisingly managed to have kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole screening as the suspense between Nixon and the outside world was somewhat very sad. Overall, I've enjoyed this film and would recommend it to those who share the same political fascination with Nixon and/or Watergate such as I.
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