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 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 harbored 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 Frost confound critics and bravely demand accountability from the man who'd 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. Frost/Nixon not only re-creates the on-air interview, but the weeks of around-the-world, behind-the-scenes maneuvering between the two men and their camps as negotiations were struck, deals were made and secrets revealed... all leading to the moment when they would sit facing one another in the court of public opinion.

I couldn’t help thinking when I left Frost/Nixon that I was probably one of the few people in the audience to not remember or know Nixon as a president nor the infamous Frost/Nixon interviews outside of a history book. The movie was clearly geared for an older audience, one who remembers the scandals and the uproar that Richard Nixon tricky Dick caused. What I know of Nixon and David Frost is from history books, I am not steeped in the lore of the times and have never seen their interview. As a younger audience less in the know would you say I felt left out or not included, absolutely not. Watching Frost/Nixon was like getting to watch a piece of history come alive and to be included in a time and a scandal that happened before I was born. Instead of just reading about it and being taught about it in school you get to live it for just a moment.

Its been nearly fifteen years since Richard Nixon passed away and while he is gone his memory still lives in infamy. The movie probably wouldn’t have done so well had it been made or released in his lifetime instead of now a long time after he has passed on. The film works because it allows us to look at a time long passed and reflect on the lessons learned. We are removed from the events, we no longer feel like we are still recovering from them and we can look back at them and judge them with neutrality. The movie isn’t preaching at you, it isn’t telling you to like or dislike Nixon it is just looking back at the man, his life and his mistakes. You can make your own judgments one way or the other and there is no agenda to the movie. That helps the film in some ways and in others makes it kind of soft. It does not make a judgment, it does not show conviction, it does not have an opinion. And while its nice to not have an a agenda forced on you it makes for a soft movie that does not have any convictions rather just trying to show a glimpse of a man, a president that is still infamous.

I don’t know if the timing of the film is auspicious or coincidental but Frost/Nixon finds it release at a time when George W. Bush finds himself leaving office. One shouldn’t get involved with politics when writing reviews and I don’t really have to because other than Nixon there is no president who has left office with such disdain, almost a hatred for the man and his politics. While Bush did not resign like Nixon did I am sure there is a great many of Americans that wish he had. So I don’t have to divulge how I felt about Bush’s presidency because at this time he is viewed to be the worst president we have had and done the most harm during his term. So a film about Richard Nixon who also received such disdain and gladness for leaving office seems almost poetic while another tainted president leaves office. It is kind of fitting and whether it was on purpose or not its hard not to think about the connection.

After seeing the movie I also would like to go back and see the actual Frost/Nixon interview. Its hard to judge the acting in the movie without having seen the interviews to know how well the actors actually capture their characters and roles. Although Frank Langella who plays Tricky Dick seems to be almost spot on from every interview or news footage that I have ever seen of the former president and he is fantastic in the role. I can’t say how Michael Sheen did without ever having see David Frost before this. The movie is a glimpse into the past, a Polaroid of time long gone and very interesting to watch even if it does come off as soft and willy nilly at times.

Grade: B+