Initially, I didn't expect too much from this movie , although it has five Oscar nomination. I chose to watch it simply because I thought I might learn some interviewing skills from this famous political talk more than 30 years ago. However, to my surprise, Frost/Nixon is a remarkable movie. Although it is based on a series of real interviews, Frost/Nixon has grasped all the makings of being an excellent and engrossing motion picture.
Following the Watergate scandal, Richard Nixon was impeached. He stepped down from the presidency and removed himself from the media spotlight. However, British TV presenter David Frost managed to persuade him to give his first formal interview after the scandal. Nixon hoped the interview would be a chance to save face and tell the world his defense. But Frost stuck to his journalistic principles and revealed the truth to the world. Frost took the upper hand and got Nixon to say this famous words in front of 400 million viewers:
"When the president does it, that means that it is not illegal."
A movie with large chunks of dialogue could easily drag and cause viewers to lose interest. The Frost/Nixon cast and crew and kept the original dialogue, but tailored it into a drama with exciting ups and downs. I think the screenplay writer must have worked very hard to achieve this balance.
Frank Langella and Michael Sheen play the roles of Richard Nixon and David Frost. They are great actors and deserve accolades as great impersonators. After I watched the film, I looked up the original interview on YouTube. The two pairs of men surprisingly resemble each other , not only in terms of their appearances, but also in their manners of speaking and bearings. But moviegoers should keep this in mind: One can never truly believe what a movie says about history. History is factual information, while movies are created for dramatic effect. For example, in the movie, Nixon calls Frost's hotel and provokes him a night before the recording. Of course, this wasn't approved. But in a sense, the movie gives a reliable account. In this movie, we have the privilege of seeing the characters' inner hearts.The movie seems so real that you feels as if you are standing in the shoes of both Frost and Nixon.
The movie would also be useful in a lesson on television interviewing for Journalism school students, as it shows what makes a good interview and a professional interviewer.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give Frost/Nixon an 8.
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