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Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Kevin Bacon, Rebecca Hall, Toby Jones ... see more see more... , Matthew MacFadyen , Oliver Platt , Sam Rockwell , Patty McCormack , Andy Milder , Kate Jennings Grant , Eve Curtis , Jenn Gotzon

Hollywood heavyweight Ron Howard adapts playwright Peter Morgan's West End hit for the silver screen with this feature focusing on the 1977 television interviews between journalist David Frost (Michae... read more read more...l Sheen) and former president Richard Nixon (Frank Langella). At the time Nixon sat down with Frost to discuss the sordid details that ultimately derailed his presidency, it had been three years since the former commander in chief had been forced out of office. The Watergate scandal was still fresh in everyone's minds, and Nixon had remained notoriously tight-lipped until he agreed to sit down with Frost. Nixon was certain that he could hold his own opposite the up-and-coming British broadcaster, and even Frost's own people weren't quite sure their boss was ready for such a high-profile interview. When the interview ultimately got under way and each man eschewed the typical posturing in favor of the simple truth, fans and critics on both sides were stunned by what they witnessed. Instead of Nixon stonewalling the interviewer as expected, or Frost lobbing softballs as the truth-seekers feared, what emerged was an unguardedly honest exchange between a man who had lost everything and another with everything to gain. In this film, viewers are treated to not only a recreation of that landmark interview, but a behind-the-scenes look at the power struggles that led up to it as well. Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, and Brian Grazer team to produce a film adapted for the screen by original play author Morgan (The Queen and The Last King of Scotland). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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86% liked it

105,437 ratings

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92% liked it

216 critics

R, 2 hr. 3 min.

Directed by: Ron Howard

Release Date: December 5, 2008

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DVD Release Date: April 21, 2009

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Stats: 8,614 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (8,614)

  • TomBowler
    October 3, 2011
    TomBowler
    Amazing from every angle. Full review later.
  • fb100002366419150
    September 15, 2011
    fb100002366419150
    Excellent film.
  • jennifxu
    July 30, 2011
    jennifxu
    How unexpected that this be the film that really caught my interest in 2008.

    I always appreciate play-based movies, to be sure, but all that history crap turned me off before I could even give it a chance. But this isn't a history movie - this is a character study of th... read moree highest degree. Nobody has praised Frank Langella enough. He doesn't play a well-coiffed irritation, he inhabits the soul of Nixon. He has managed to strip away everything but the essence of Nixon's compulsion to be loved and morally ambiguous actions. It's like that scene in A Few Good Men but less knowingly explosive.

    This is a less a history movie than a balletic duel between two inimitable forces. There is parallelism but we're not beaten to the ground by them. Scenes are shown to create emotions. The ending is a bit of a simplification but the movie is aware of that, how television simplifies everything. Rebecca Hall provides some much needed sex appeal. Michael Sheen's performance should rightfully be recognized but Langella makes us forget about him, sadly. I am SO impressed by Ron Howard I don't even know what to say.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    July 5, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Frost / Nixon is one of Ron Howard's best films since Apollo 13. The film tells the story of David Frost, and how he came to get Richard Nixon to admit to his involvement in the now famous "Frost/Nixon interviews". Ron Howard's direction iks near perfect, and Frost / Nixon is an ... read moreincredible drama film. Brilliantly acted by Michael Sheen and Frank Langella. Though the film surrounds the l.egendary interview, the film is exciting to watch. I was thrilled from start to finish and I was blown away by the ending, of course those familiar with the interview knows what happens at the end, but boy is it still thrilling. Langella and Sheen's on screen chemistry is incredible and it's very intense to see them butt heads on screen. This is a masterful drama film that has an important story, one that is one of the most significant moments in American politics. The cast alongside Sheen and Langella are great as well. Sam Rockwell is as brilliant as ever and I was very impressed with Oliver Platt's performance as well considering that he's not that great an actor. Fros/Nixon is fairly suspenseful at times as the interview unfolds before the viewer. Even though we know what happens, it's nonetheless thrilling to see. Fros/Nixon is a powerful film that is superbly well acted and directed and has a powerful story to boot. Ron Howard has made some terrific films in the past, and in recent years, he has made a few duds, however this is one of his best since Cinderella Man and A Beautiful Mind.
  • itsjustme2004
    April 19, 2011
    itsjustme2004
    This title could easily make you believe it is going to be boring. On the contrary, Ron Howard's direction, and the writing, kept the performances moving at a suspenceful pace. David Frost put his name on the map when he landed the Nixon interview. At the time, people were skepti... read morecal about Frost's ability to get Nixon to open up, and candidly discuss Watergate. During the movie, Ron Howard was able to duplicate the anticipation, and suspence, throughout the interviews. Great job!
  • stevenecarrier
    February 17, 2011
    stevenecarrier
    Ron Howard's "Frost/Nixon" is a "nice" film. It never digs to hard and never dares to attack either side; weather it be politics or the media. However, it is a fine portrait of a time when the media was starting to cause strong waves in the way politics and politicians were desti... read morened to be remembered. The cast is great and the writing is snappy, but like I said, it's all to "nice" to truly make an important statement.
  • nadirairdiana
    January 15, 2011
    nadirairdiana
    Frost/Nixon is a type of movie that glue you to the screen since it is very enganging. The battle of the conversation is very smart. Nixon is a historical figure that is important in the Watergate conflict. The public wants him to apologize for the mistakes he made in his preside... read morential time, but the president never do so. Frost is somewhat the same with Nixon. The two was very confident and never know what their deficiency are. The story about how hard it is to admit our mistakes, Frost/Nixon is worth watching.

    "When the president does it, that means it's not illegal" -- Richard Nixon
  • JonathanHutchings
    April 8, 2010
    JonathanHutchings
    Frost/Nixon, if you haven't heard yet, is an adaptation of a stage play that details the build-up and production of four interviews between former president Richard M. Nixon and Australian television host David Frost in 1977. The interviews were quite important as they were the f... read moreirst to be conducted since Nixon resigned from the Oval Office. This was to be the first, and best, chance to theoretically heal the nation by getting Nixon to come clean about his criminal culpability. Would this lightweight showbiz interviewer be able to match wits with a master politician, or would he play an unwitting role in rehabilitating the image of the hated ex-president?

    In a rare move, both of the original play's leads reprise their roles for this Ron Howard-directed film version. Frank Langella once again portrays Richard Nixon and Michael Sheen again takes on David Frost. Langella (who you may remember as Skeletor in Masters of the Universe... no? Ok, maybe that's just me. And Clint.) won a Tony Award in 2007 for the stage version, and does an outstanding job here, virtually guaranteeing himself a Best Actor Oscar nomination. He is absolutely mesmerizing on screen. The rest of the cast shines just as brightly (Ron Howard, I believe deserves a lot of credit for not being overly directorial and letting his actors flourish). Michael Sheen has the difficult task of keeping Frost sympathetic while he consistently underestimates the demands of the assignment he has given himself; however, the most entertaining beats, arguably, involve Sam Rockwell and Oliver Platt. Rockwell in particular excels as anti-Nixon historian James Reston Jr., who desperately wants to use this interview to "give Nixon the trial he never got." Oliver Platt is less over dramatic as ABC News honcho Bill Zelnick, but it's always a joy to watch him play subtly sarcastic, intelligent men of authority.

    The one major critique of the film I've heard is that the screenplay's arches have been manipulated and heightened to give the film more of a dramatic feel, and that the original Frost/Nixon interviews are nowhere near as entertaining (except when the topic turned to Watergate, of course). While that may be true, the elevated drama in this film is absolutely riveting and supremely effective, thereby making it nearly impossible to stand by that criticism. What we have is a Rocky-style boxing match: meticulous research and training, all in the hopes of destroying the opposition. I saw this film with some friends of mine, and at one point, I looked over and each one of them were sitting on the edge of their seats, eyes glued to the screen, absolutely riveted by what was transpiring. Best of all, this film was able to accomplish that without explosions and chase scenes. That, my friends, is the mark of an excellent film.
  • cosmo313
    February 20, 2010
    cosmo313
    While this film is really damn good, it's not as good as it thinks it is or should be. Yes, the subject matter is engrossing, interesting, and important, and yes, while the direction is good (this is one of Howard's better films of the past few years), the pacing is kinda shaky. ... read moreEverything else though, from the performances, to the writing, and the art direction/set design/details, is absolutely terrific if not borderline phenomenal. Langella isn't a dead ringer for Nixon in voice or likeness, but the mannerisms and characterization of spot on. Sheen is likewise amazing as Frost. I really enjoyed the supporting roles as well. It's nice to see Platt in a dramatic role (something he doesn't (I don't believe) do too much of-which is a pity). Mhy grade is a slight inflation, but that's because I happen to enjoy this period of American history, and just reallty like the overall look and feel of everything on display.
  • jjnxn
    December 20, 2009
    jjnxn
    Great acting from all involved and an interesting take on a fascinating historical event.

View All Frost/Nixon Reviews

Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper
February 8, 2009
Richard Roeper, Richard Roeper.com

Nixon is infinitely more complex than George W. Bush, which is probably why this one slice of his life is more intriguing than "W," which covers decades. Full Review

J. R. Jones
December 25, 2008
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

All this makes for great entertainment on the big screen, though the real legacy of the Nixon interviews is more vexing than Morgan would have us understand. Full Review

Kenneth Turan
December 16, 2008
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

The result is involving, engrossing cinema -- more thrilling, in fact, than Howard's The Da Vinci Code -- filmmaking of a type rarely seen anymore and sorely missed. Full Review

Christopher Orr
December 12, 2008
Christopher Orr, New Republic

This is the irony of Frost/Nixon: Though it chronicles the moment when (in theory) the 37th president of the United States was cut down to size, the movie's presentation of him is utterly larger than ... Full Review

Richard Corliss
December 12, 2008
Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine

Langella is not a natural Nixon; he has a voluptuary's face and a self-assurance the president only dreamed of. So he burrows into Nixon and comes out with a figure who is less a simulacrum than the d... Full Review

Claudia Puig
December 12, 2008
Claudia Puig, USA Today

An absorbing film replete with telling moments and powerful performances. Full Review

Philip Kennicott
December 12, 2008
Philip Kennicott, Washington Post

It isn't Shakespeare, but it is drama at a level one doesn't often get in movies. Full Review

Colin Covert
December 12, 2008
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Despite a cavalcade of talent, Frost/Nixon is a middling thing. Full Review

Amy Biancolli
December 12, 2008
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

When the movie sticks to its central dramatic conflict, it can be spellbinding. Full Review

Tom Long
December 12, 2008
Tom Long, Detroit News

Both a crackerjack entertainment and a sharp look at the roots, and limitations, of ambition, while stars Frank Langella (Nixon) and Michael Sheen (Frost) put on the year's most provocative and finely... Full Review

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Facts

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    • Jack Brennan: The third part of the interview will be titled, 'Nixon, the Man.'
    • Richard Nixon: As opposed to what, 'Nixon, the Horse?'
    • David Frost: Are you really saying the President can do something illegal?
    • Richard Nixon: I'm saying that when the President does it, it's *not* illegal!
    • David Frost: I'm sorry?
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Frost/Nixon Trivia

  • Name this director. Frost/Nixon (2008) The Da Vinci Code (2006) Cinderella Man (2005)   Answer »
  • 'Frost/Nixon' (2008) is a film directed by Ron Howard.  Answer »
  • Kevin Bacon is in the film 'Frost/Nixon'.  Answer »
  • Director: Ron "Ginger" Howard Year: 2008 Starring: Sam Rockwell Kevin Bacon Oliver Platt Frank Langella Michael Sheen  Answer »
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