Frost/Nixon (DVD)

As a child of the 70s, most of the significant political events of the decade passed me by, so I didn't remember the events portrayed in Frost/Nixon. Despite this, it offers an interesting insight into both politics and the world of television, as well as proving gripping viewing. The film is based around a series of interviews conducted by chat show host David Frost with disgraced former US President Richard Nixon and shows a fascinating battle of wills between two strong-headed characters. Frost/Nixon has been criticised in some quarters for playing fast and loose with some of the facts (e.g. suggesting that, Frost was a lightweight TV presenter, ...  Read the complete review

Directed by Ron Howard, 'Frost/Nixon' dramatises the television interviews which took place between British interviewer David Frost and ex-President Richard Nixon in 1977. Before tonight, my knowledge of the Watergate Scandal was limited - I generally knew what it involved, but didn't appreciate the intricacies of the affair. The film is set three years after Nixon resigns from office, with the American people seeking an public apology for the mistakes he made. Frost, played by the versatile Michael Sheen, sees an opportunity to try his hand at 'serious' journalism and decides that Nixon would make a great interviewee. Nixon (Frank Langella) accepts the ...  Read the complete review

When my other half told me he wanted us to watch Frost/Nixon for our Saturday night movie, I must admit to being not exactly thrilled by the prospect. I don't particularly enjoy politics, let alone things that happened 12 years before I was even born so I wasn't at all interested in the idea of watching this movie. The only redeeming thing about the film was the fact that Michael Sheen was it, soneone I loved from watching 'The Queen' so in the interests of fairness I decided to sit down with him and watch it, knowing I wouldn't be too bothered if I didn't like it since it was free! I certainly didn't expect to like it as much as I did! Frost/Nixon is centred ...  Read the complete review

~~~ Synopsis ~~~ Picture the scene, it is 1974 and Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the United States, becomes the first and only president to resign from office for likely impeachment for his involvement in the infamous Watergate scandal of 1972. Watergate is the presidential scandal that involved a series of political scandals where it appears Nixon abused his position of power to his advantage for things like a laundered slush fund, wiretapping and break-ins. David Frost, a British broadcaster sees the events unfolding and takes it upon himself to pursue a series of interviews with the former President in a bid to gain worldwide ...  Read the complete review

Is it me but every time I see Michael Sheen doing one of his impressions I only see Alan B`stard, Rick Mayalls brilliantly devious and obnoxious Tory MP creation, the latter alarming close to the real thing if recent goings on in Westminster are anything to go by. I never really felt The Queen, which starred Sheen, was a movie in the traditional sense of the word and so steered well clear, an hour's drama on ITV at best, but when Frost/Nixon - based on the stage play by the same name and cast - came out I was more encouraged to take a look at Sheens work. Although I can't really relate to Nixon and the Watergate crisis, that saw the only presidential resignation in ...  Read the complete review