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Movie Review
At the recent Academy Awards there was no doubt that the heavily favored Slumdog Millionaire would capture the coveted Best Picture prize. It was a deserved win. However, left in the wake of the Slumdog sweep was one of the better dramatic movies of recent years.
Former Oscar winning director, Ron Howard, lent his considerable directorial skill to the film
adaptation of the stage play, Frost/Nixon.
This film delivers a powerful behind-the-scenes look at the 1976 television interviews between
jet-setting media personality, David Frost, and disgraced former president, Richard Nixon. It depicts Frost's gamble to rise from talk show host to media icon. He barely creates his own syndicated network to televise the interviews after all the standard networks turn him down, practically forcing him into personal bankruptcy.
Backed by a team of dedicated investigative reporters we see the evolution of Frost into one of the world's most respected interviewers. Nixon agrees to the interviews as he sees them as a way to salvage his damaged legacy. What he gets instead is the trial he never received for his part in the Watergate Scandal.
This is a case where the director stuck to his guns. There are no superstars in the cast but an
ensemble of terrific character actors. Michael Sheen portrays Frost, first as the flamboyant talk show host who morphs into the determined inquisitor. He recreates his stage performance here as does Frank Langella as the former President. Langella is nothing short of sensational as we watch Nixon succumb to the Frost interrogation and the last chance to save his tarnished legacy. Langella's voice mimicry is pitch perfect and his Best Actor Oscar nomination was richly deserved.
While this electrifying film failed to win any of its five nominations it is now available on a DVD. Any fan of great dramatic acting and tine cinematic direction should seek out this film.
You will not be disappointed!
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