Saturday June 6 FROST/NIXON

121 mins, USA 2008 Directed by Ron Howard, Starring Michael Sheen, Frank Langella

Peter Morgan (writer of The Queen and The Deal) adapted his acclaimed stage play for director Ron Howard, condensing David Frost’s four 90 minute television interviews with Richard Nixon into a taught face off, a verbal and psychological boxing match between two men with a great deal at stake.

In one corner is the disgraced political heavyweight ex-President, anxious to salvage a reputation from the ruins of his political career. He had resigned to avoid impeachment but had never been publicly tried for his role in the Watergate affair. In the other corner is Frost, chat show host and media hustler, a sort of David to Nixon’s Goliath, whose fierce journalistic ambition demanded that he secure a confession.

The film takes in the context of the talks, the manoeuvres and positioning of advisors and researchers from both sides of the pond, serving their differing agendas. But the confrontation is the meat of the film, each man sizing up the other, Nixon seeking to undermine, Frost gaining confidence against a formidable adversary who ultimately owns that "when the President does it, that means that it is not illegal".

Michael Sheen and Frank Langella are astonishing in a riveting, razor sharp and tautly realised drama. 

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