Frost/Nixon
Directed by Ron Howard
- drama
- history
The story
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 harboured doubts about their boss's ability to hold his own. But as the cameras rolled, a charged battle of wits resulted.
What it’s like
Warm, low-key interiors rendered in soft, tungsten-leaning lamplight, with the 1970s texture carried by wood panelling, rust-orange and brown upholstery, and the grainy, slightly faded look of the period. Much of the picture unfolds in long, carefully blocked two-shots and close-ups where the camera rests on faces as they calculate, flinch and bluff, with the occasional restless handheld move when the stakes spike. The score is sparse and tensile, often just a low pulse under dialogue, so the silences between sentences carry as much weight as the lines. Its vibe is tense, witty and quietly melancholy: a Sunday-afternoon watch that rewards attention, equally suited to a film-club evening or a grown-up double bill with a historically curious friend. The pacing is brisk and verbal, building through rounds of sparring toward a late, raw surge of feeling, and its central arc follows two proud men, one washed up and one underestimated, each slowly exposing the cost of ambition. Intensity is low: there is no violence or gore, and the drama is verbal, with some strong language and a few sharp emotional outbursts. It is for viewers who enjoy talky political drama, sharp performances and the pleasures of watching two clever people circle each other.
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