Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #280 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-05-18
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 118 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
It’s not always that a stage play translates particularly well to the medium of movies. But for anyone considering such a challenge in the future, Frost/Nixon is surely a fine template to follow. In the capable hands of director Ron Howard, the extraordinary story of how a then-fairly low profile television interviewer managed to bring the disgraced former President of the United States to account is, at best, absolutely riveting.

Much of the reason for this is the two leading performances, which are both absolutely exception. The awards attention for Frost/Nixon has been directed towards Frank Langella, and truly he’s an actor long overdue some recognition. Here, as ex-President Nixon, he’s flat-out brilliant: a complex, intriguing character portrayed with real measure and expertise. It’s unfair, though, that Michael Sheen has been overlooked by some. Fresh from portraying Tony Blair in The Queen, Sheen is once more brilliant here, injecting Frost with an erratic, on-the-edge fallibility that sets up the film’s final act extremely well.

Now you can argue, with some right, that Frost/Nixon flattens out some of the facts to its own liking, and certainly the portrayal of David Frost doesn’t seem to do the man too many favours. But when it gets to the interviews themselves, it’s electric, and proof that you don’t need a bunch of effects and flashy gimmicks to keep you on the edge of your seat. Ron Howard has done this to us before with a true story, in the shape of Apollo 13, and here again, even though we know the ending, the journey there is quite brilliant. You really can make compelling drama with just two people sat in a chair… --Simon Brew

Michael Sheen stars as journalist David Frost	Kevin Bacon stars as Richard Nixon's aide Jack Brennan	Michael Sheen and Rebecca Hall
Frank Langella works with director Ron Howard	A scene in which David Frost visits Richard Nixon’s home	The superb supporting cast including Sam Rockwell, Oliver Platt and Matthew Macfadyen

DVD Description
Oscar-winning director Ron Howard brings to the screen writer Peter Morgan's (The Queen, Last King of Scotland) electrifying battle between Richard Nixon, the disgraced president with a legacy to save, and David Frost, a jet-setting television personality with a name to make, in the untold story of the historic encounter that changed both: Frost/Nixon. Reprising their roles from Morgan's stageplay are Frank Langella, who won a Tony for his portrayal of Nixon, and Michael Sheen, who originally played the part of Frost onstage in London and New York.

For three years after being forced from office, Nixon remained silent. But in summer 1977, the steely, cunning former commander-in-chief agreed to sit down for one all-inclusive interview to confront the questions of his time in office and the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency. Nixon surprised everyone in selecting Frost as his televised confessor, intending to easily outfox the breezy British showman and secure a place in the hearts and minds of Americans.

Likewise, Frost's team harboured doubts about their boss' ability to hold his own. But as cameras rolled, a charged battle of wits resulted. Would Nixon evade questions of his role in one of the nation's greatest disgraces? Or would Forst confound critics and bravely demand accountability from the man who had built a career out of stonewalling? Over the course of their encounter, each man would reveal his own insecurities, ego and reserves of dignity--ultimately setting aside posturing in a stunning display of unvarnished truth.

Synopsis
The power of television and one man's drive to achieve what seems like, at times, an impossible dream, are the two central themes explored in Ron Howard's enthralling drama FROST/NIXON. The impossible dream belongs to David Frost (Michael Sheen), a moderately successful English talk show host who sets out to interview disgraced former president Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) following his resignation in 1974. Howard examines how Frost pulled off such an audacious achievement, and also looks at how both sides prepared for the series of interviews, which eventually transpired in 1977. The confrontation between the two is laced with tension, and the director makes it clear that both men had plenty to lose and a lot to gain, depending on who the public perceived to be in control.


Langella gives a supreme performance as Nixon, easily matching Anthony Hopkins's turn as the former president in Oliver Stone's NIXON (1995). Howard's film, which is based on the play of the same name by Peter Morgan, expertly pits the two men against one another by highlighting both their strengths and weaknesses. Frost was a consummate TV host but was out of his depth in political commentary; Nixon was highly adept at avoiding direct answers to Frost's questions, but couldn't mask his sullen facial expressions from the camera. Sheen and Langella are supported by a resolutely excellent cast, and the tension builds to almost unbearable levels as the two finally sit down and discuss Nixon's career. The key scene, in which Nixon's true feelings are exposed via a simple trick--a close-up shot of the former president's sad-eyed face, clearly indicating his deep unhappiness at all his failings--is adeptly handled by Howard, and serves to highlight how vital it is for politicians to perform under the unforgiving gaze of the media.

Customer Reviews

Who lives in a house like this?
Frost/Nixon could have been a bit on the 'worthy but dull' tip, but it's not: it's a gripping and magnetically watchable piece of cinema, and perhaps director Ron Howard's finest film to date. (Even better than The Grinch)

The casting is nigh-on perfect.

Michael Sheen - as David Frost - brilliant performance here. Frost is shown as an almost pathological optimist, all television teeth and hair, but with real intelligence and ambition behind the sheen, sorry for the pun there, it was a genuine accident.

Nixon - Frank Langella. Another eye poppingly good piece of acting from Langella - showing Nixon as a very smart operator indeed, with a knack for unsettling the interviewer. Most memorably when he asks Frost before the cameras roll what Frost had been up to the previous evening, "Were you fornicating?", he asks, while Frost can only answer by looking like his face is about to burst.

Supporting cast are all excellent too. Kevin Bacon as Nixon's ultra-loyal right-hand man is excellent, as is Matthew MacFadyen doing a slightly comical John Birt, and also Rebecca Hall as Frost's parabolic girlfriend.

Frost/Nixon is engrossing and detailed stuff that moves along at just the right pace to an electrifying showdown between Frost and the former president.

Well worth a look even if all you previously knew about the people involved was that David Frost presented Through The Keyhole, and that Nixon was a bit of an unsavoury character.

Solid 5 star stuff.

Michael Sheen is superb
Frost/Nixon is a smoothly produced movie that can be thoroughlly enjoyed without even knowing anything about the Watergate scandal.

The acting from the two leads, Frank Langella (as former president Richard Nixon) and Michael Sheen (as talk-show host David Frost), is superb. I was rather confused however to see that Langella was nominated for an Academy Award in a lead role (losing to Sean Penn in Milk) and yet Sheen wasn't even nominated for a 'Actor in a Supporting role' award, whereas, in my humble opinion, Sheen is actually the star of the show here with a truly great portayal of David Frost.
The supporting cast also deserves a mention as it also is wonderful.

There were certain details about the movie that could be questioned; Nixon's call to Frost's hotel room, Nixon's change of heart - to admit he broke the law - seems extremely sudden (especially after "stone-walling" Frost as he entered the house), and the final "shoe" scene.

However, the fact that Ron Howard & co managed to make a film that is, at its most simple, simply about an interview that took place in the 70's, and make it such entertaining and tense viewing is extremely commendable.

An well crafted movie into a true event of Amercian politics
The Frost/Nixon is a well crafted movie. It is an excellent portrait of the Watergate scandal. What was the scandal about? Controversial president Richard Nixon was alleged to be involved in a scandal that created impeachment, as he abused power by supporting dirty politics. It not only damaged the credibility, but the American nation suffered. Playboy British journalist David Frost was interested in an interview with the disgraced president. High drama builds up to main event of the movie. It concerns the Watergate scandal.Does he confess openly to the American people in a televised interview with Frost for the wrong doings? Does Frost career as a journalist prosper? The movie will reveal the answers. That is the gist of the movie.

I found Frost/Nixon an interesting and fascinating movie to watch. Michael Sheen as David Frost and Frank Langella as Richard Nixon provided electrifying performances to really replicate the biggest political scandal of the 20th century, that brought American politics to shame. The movie has been well crafted and throught out. I was really glued to the movie, as I wanted to learn more about the Watergate scandal and gain some understanding about Nixon as person. I view Nixon an intriguing and maybe a little misunderstood, but I saw David Frost in a different light, that I have not noticed on TV.

Frost/Nixon is not the easiest movie to produce, but a great job has been achieved with electrifying acting, a great build up of events leading to the much publicised interview and valuable insights into the Watergate scandal.