Review of Frost/Nixon (2008) by Jennifer X — 29 Jul 2011
How unexpected that this be the film that really caught my interest in 2008. I always appreciate play-based movies, to be sure, but all that history crap turned me off before I could even give it a chance.
But this isn't a history movie - this is a character study of the highest degree. Nobody has praised Frank Langella enough. He doesn't play a well-coiffed irritation, he inhabits the soul of Nixon.
He has managed to strip away everything but the essence of Nixon's compulsion to be loved and morally ambiguous actions. It's like that scene in A Few Good Men but less knowingly explosive.This is a less a history movie than a balletic duel between two inimitable forces.
There is parallelism but we're not beaten to the ground by them. Scenes are shown to create emotions. The ending is a bit of a simplification but the movie is aware of that, how television simplifies everything.
Rebecca Hall provides some much needed sex appeal. Michael Sheen's performance should rightfully be recognized but Langella makes us forget about him, sadly. I am SO impressed by Ron Howard I don't even know what to say.
This review of Frost/Nixon (2008) was written by Jennifer X on 29 Jul 2011.
Frost/Nixon has generally received very positive reviews.
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