Frost/Nixon

A boxing match between a political champion and a loser from an entertainment slum, 4 rounds at a dazzling pace and nerve-wracking gradation. Ron Howard undoubtedly trimmed the political issue, adjusted both characters and put them into the ever popular scheme "David vs. Goliath KO in the last round"... However, I am honestly searching in vain, trying to find out when I enjoyed it more and when, behind the brilliantly elaborated scheme, I found such an exciting background and point that goes beyond mere entertainment. The Frost/Nixon duel reveals the part of politics one has to follow breathlessly, media fireworks, a powerful story and a remarkable message about the power of the television screen. I don't think this film will surpass the other Oscar favorite, in my opinion. (02/22/2009)

It's almost unbelievable, but Howard surprised and made a solid film. I wouldn't say that such a “ordinary”, purely conversational approach could captivate more than any of Howard's action scenes from previous works. Without sentiment, without fluff, only the most efficient and relatively gentle reconstruction of the well-known conversation between fantastically a played Nixon and an excellent Frost. The performances were phenomenal and that's what it was primarily about. (06/12/2010)

My Oscar favourite this year. After the awful The Da Vinci Code, Ron Howard must have had a fit of creativity and I applaud him. This film is one of the best political dramas in many years. It is engagingly shot, not boringly descriptive, on the contrary, through an interesting verbal TV duel between the two leading characters, it presents the socially tense period after the biggest stain on the political culture of the history of the United States, the Watergate affair (when a large part of the American society could not stomach Ford's amnesty on Richard Nixon's transgressions). With his piercing gaze, thoughtful diction and mesmerizing confidence, Frank Langella is about ten times more devilish than Nixon himself, and I hope he has a pleasant Oscar night. (02/06/2009)

In this film, everything works like a well-oiled Swiss watch of the highest quality. Both of the actors in the titular lead roles deliver excellent performances in a dialogue duel focusing on a detailed portrayal of their characters, shot and edited in the most appealing way possible. This makes Frost/Nixon completely unique and it’s a testimony to Ron Howard’s extraordinary ability to render difficult subject matter in a way that pleases even the most consumerist viewer. No matter how good they may be, films of this kind are usually protracted, intimate and gloomy, offering an intellectual exercise rather than emotion or attractive visuals. Together with Hans Zimmer’s music and the ferocious chemistry (but also humility and respect) between the two rivals played by Michael Sheen and Frank Langella, the visuals of Frost/Nixon make this a juicy, sexy film delicacy. (02/25/2009)

Of the films with Peter Morgan's screenwriting signature that I've seen so far, Frost/Nixon is unfortunately one of the weaker ones. On the one hand, there are perfect performances by Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Sam Rockwell, and Kevin Bacon, and a neat documentary atmosphere. On the other hand, the characters are pretty much useless, including (unfortunately) Rebecca Hall, whose purpose I didn't fully understand, and some off-camera scenes are barely believable, for example, the late-night phone call. I guess the original stage play is more concentrated, and thus probably better. (08/29/2023)