Frost Nixon

MUST-SEE: (Ron Howard) From the opinions of someone completely ignorant to anything about Richard Nixon and Watergate that wasn't revealed through 1999's Dick, I have to say this movie is incredible. It's a summed up version of the White House scandal, revealed in the questions and answers that took place between David frost and President Nixon in the summer of 1977. Played majestically by Frank Langella, Nixon is believably human, a fragile aging man fighting to keep his political repuatation alive post-impeachment as well as maintain his "presidential" stature. Michael Sheen is TV host and pop star David Frost, adequately matched to a real-life Frost, performing it as naturally as if he were him. As Frost bites off (possibly) more than he can chew with his own reputation's biggest subject yet, Nixon prepares to railroad an inexperienced investigative journalist. The result is an ultimate battle of wits, where the only weapons are experience and confidence backed by a ruthless ability to bullshit. Langella reverberates a calm and defiant demeanor, clamoring Frost's hopes as the interviews skew from an intended direction. Only as Nixon finds comfort and begins to relax does Frost's determination (and threat to go bankrupt) light a fire underneath his team, ultimately cornering Nixon, tiring him out and at last, squeezing a confession for 400 million viewers to see. The film beautifully portrays the emotional ride our nation was on that summer, explaining plenty (for the ignorant few) but leaving the evidence of "character" to your own definition. The loose filming gave it 70s realism, the acting brought it validation. Langella sits high on a list of nominees for this role. Thanks to Ron Howard for delivering a believable, relatable, historical piece to a modern-day society of political curiosity.