Quickcard Review Frost/Nixon

Directed by: Ron Howard Cast: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Kevin Bacon, Sam Rockwell Running Time: 2 hrs Rating: R

CLICK HERE to read Allen's complete Scorecard Review

Plot: Based on the true story ... Former President Richard Nixon (Langella) has just resigned from office. David Frost (Sheen), an English talk show host, is the unlikely interviewer who lands the story and chance of a lifetime.

Who’s It For? First and foremost this is for history fanatics. In an interview the real-life Frost said this film is 80 percent true. That's pretty good compared to most "based on a true story" flicks.

OVERALL

Does director Ron Howard have a style? He's a very accomplished man, but I never feel like I am watching a RON HOWARD FILM (the caps showed emphasis). It's almost like he's a chameleon director, able to craft a variety of projects and do them all very well. But perhaps this also stops him from making unequivocally great films. For the most part though, it's all restrained emotion.

Sheen and Langella never go overboard, except for a late night phone call, which I am guessing is part of the 20 percent that is fictitious. And with a film that offers two outstanding performances, it's a third party player--Sam Rockwell--who steals the show. And again, I think it's because it goes back to my point of restrained emotion. Rockwell is the one "good guy" (if you believe Nixon is on the evil side) who is die-hard passionate about the project.

Even though this film is a talkfest, I don't actually feel like I was hanging on any particular conversation, except for the one journalistic "gotcha" moment which comes at the end. Frost/Nixon is a solid film, and you'll be glad you saw it, because of the insight it brings to a time where politics were finally acknowledged as corrupt.

Final Score: 7/10