Tricky Dick

Frost/Nixon
2008, dir. Ron Howard. 2 hours.
starring Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Sam Rockwell, Toby Jones, Oliver Platt, Kevin Bacon, Rebecca Hall.

Two of my all time favorite films are All The President's Men, from 1976, and Nixon, from 1995. This new film from Ron Howard, about the infamous television interviews between David Frost and Richard Nixon, covers similar territory as those two films, but doesn't have as much poignancy or quality as either.

Frank Langella plays Richard Nixon, the 37th president of the United States, and as yet the only one to resign from office. Michael Sheen plays David Frost, the talk show host and international playboy who had zero industry respect until he managed to scoop up this interview from the hands of CBS and 60 Minutes. Many critics have lauded Langella for his performance, reprised from the Tony and Pulitzer winning stage play, but for me it pales in comparison to Hopkins as Nixon in Oliver Stone's Nixon, and also Philip Baker Hall in Robert ALtman's Secret Honor. Langella comes off flat, neither interesting, nor even even unintentionally funny, like a SNL impression. Sheen isn't much better, since I'm not sure how he's any different here than in his Tony Blair portrayal from The Queen.

Unfortunately for the film, strong performances (that I feel don't exist) are what's supposed to save this film from the fact that it has nothing new to say on either Nixon, Watergate, or television news for that matter. Ultimately, I'm not sure what you'd get from this film that you wouldn't get from just watching the actual interviews, which are now available on DVD.

Overall, a weak and dull film from Ron Howard, who is known for making some weak and dull films.

2 stars out of 5.

Seen Friday afternoon at World Exchange. Had a bottle of Coke Zero.