Everyone has heard the story of Richard Nixon and Watergate, they may not know the ins and outs of the whole thing, but the resigning of a American President is standard history. What is less known it the part that a then modest TV presenter/comic played in bringing out the "confession" from Mr Nixon, and this is where this little gem of a movie comes in.
The film tells the story from the resignation through to the final meeting between the presenter David Frost and Nixon following the final of his historic interviews. Playing David Frost impeccably with his trademark delivery is the go-to man for "playing real people" Michael Sheen. Like his other rolls, Tony Blair, Kenneth Williams and Brian Clough, he never gives an impression of the people like an impressionist would, he purely becomes them, and as he strolls from party to opening night to studio set you could really just believe that you were watching the young David Frost. Frank Langella meanwhile is everything the imposing figure, as the tall but slightly stooping Mr Nixon. Powerful in delivery when required, but soft and subtle when trying to get under people skins. A pretty perfect performance right down to the haunting final scenes of silence in the interview.
The film is rightfully more about David Frost, who as history dictates comes out the winner in the end. Triumphing over the once mighty President bought down by his own wrong-doings.
Of the other cast, the stand out is Sam Rockwell as the Watergate expert and Nixon hater James Reston, Jr. Right from his early scenes, he manages to keep his own against the two leads and the scenes leading up to his first meeting with Nixon are nicely played.
Most of the rest of the cast have less to do, with Matthew Macfadyen a by the numbers John Birt (latter to become BBC Director General no less). Kevin Bacon a little underwhelming as the military man at the Presidents side. Also the wonderful Rebecca Hall is given very little to do other than look gorgeous as David Frost's current bit of stuff. This however she is most certainly able to, although it is a terrible waste of her (acting) talents.
The film itself is very nicely put together, and star director Ron Howard pulls out the stops to tell the true story well. Its true that as is the want of the source material, the real meat of the film is in the last quarter. However the rest is a nice appetiser for what is to come even if you are fully aware of the story, and I would totally recommend that given the chance, you give it a watch as it is much more than just a history lesson.
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