REVIEW: Frost/Nixon: shrewd mix of comedy, politics

By Clarence Yu Contributor DIRECTOR Ron Howard has once again proven his mettle with his latest Academy-no minated effort, Frost/Nixon. Based on the London and Broadway plays of the same name, Michael Sheen (The Queen) and Frank Langella (Dave) reprise their roles as David Frost and Richard M. Nixon. While not as seriously dramatic as Oliver Stone's Nixon, the film is a great an d successful attempt at educating and entertaining audiences on a particular pi ece of celluloid history that has become the stuff of legend for political junk ies, the infamous Nixon interviews that took place in 1977. Michael Sheen plays David Frost as the talk show/television host who yearns for more credibility and fame, and Frank Langella gives a powerhouse performance a s the disgraced President Nixon who, well, wants his credibility and fame resto red. It is the comedy of it all that makes the film work. Witness the film's first h our or so and you will find that the film does not attempt to be serious politi cal drama but rather a behind-the-scenes look at how Frost tries to set up an i nterview with Nixon. A passionate James Reston, Jr. played by Sam Rockwell, liv ens up the comedy even more. Kevin Bacon surprisingly brings in a watered down performance as Nixon's chief of staff Jack Brennan as he doesn't really bring anything refreshing to the fil m. The film notably highlights Richard Nixon's political skill and the ethics of c heckbook journalism. Small details such as several surprised looks on Frostâs f ace and the irresistible personal charm of Frank Langella's Nixon are exploded onto the screen with such vividness that I could not help but laugh at it all. Whether this is intended or not, these help propel the film from a mere politic al film to something really worth watching. I haven't seen the play but I think that Ron Howard has been successful in this transposition from stage to screen . The youth of today are encouraged to see this film to get a glimpse of how it w as back then before reality TV and how deeply America was scarred by the only r esignation of a President in office. Hopefully one day, Bill Clinton's scandals can be rightfully made into a film in the same vein. A word of caution however--all must be taken in context. David Frost went on to become somewhat of a more serious journalist, finally earning a knighthood, an d Richard M. Nixon became a somewhat respected elder statesman in his later yea rs before finally passing away in 1994. Finally, Frank Langella's performance as Nixon rightfully deserves its Oscar no mination. He doesn't look anything like Nixon, but by the end of this highly en tertaining movie, you are convinced. Anything but boring, this movie is a must see.