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. 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.--Robert Horton
Frank Langella | Richard Nixon |
Michael Sheen | David Frost |
Kevin Bacon | Jack Brennan |
Sam Rockwell | James Reston, Jr. |
Matthew Macfadyen | John Birt |
Oliver Platt | Bob Zelnick |
Rebecca Hall | Caroline Cushing |
Toby Jones | Swifty Lazar |
Andy Milder | Frank Gannon |
Kate Jennings Grant | Diane Sawyer |
Gabriel Jarret | Ken Khachigian |
Jim Meskimen | Ray Price |
Patty McCormack | Pat Nixon |
Geoffrey Blake | Interview Director |
Clint Howard | Lloyd Davis |