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{{Short description|2008 historical drama film}}
{{Infobox Film
{{Infobox film
| name = Frost/Nixon
| name = Frost/Nixon
| image = Frost nixon.jpg
| image = Frost nixon.jpg
| caption = [[Film poster|Theatrical poster]]
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Ron Howard]]
| director = [[Ron Howard]]
| producer = Ron Howard<br>[[Brian Grazer]]<br>[[Tim Bevan]]<br>[[Eric Fellner]]
| producer = {{Plainlist |
* [[Brian Grazer]]
| writer = [[Peter Morgan]]
* Ron Howard
| starring = [[Michael Sheen]]<br>[[Frank Langella]]<br>[[Kevin Bacon]]<br>[[Oliver Platt]]<br>[[Sam Rockwell]]<br>[[Matthew Macfadyen]]<br>[[Rebecca Hall]]<br>[[Toby Jones]]<br>[[Andy Milder]]
* [[Tim Bevan]]
* [[Eric Fellner]]
}}
| screenplay = [[Peter Morgan]]
| based_on = {{Based on|''[[Frost/Nixon (play)|Frost/Nixon]]''|Peter Morgan}}
| starring = {{Plainlist |
* [[Frank Langella]]
* [[Michael Sheen]]
* [[Kevin Bacon]]
* [[Rebecca Hall]]
* [[Toby Jones]]
* [[Matthew Macfadyen]]
* [[Oliver Platt]]
* [[Sam Rockwell]]
}}
| music = [[Hans Zimmer]]
| music = [[Hans Zimmer]]
| cinematography = Salvadore Totino
| cinematography = [[Salvatore Totino]]
| editing = [[Daniel P. Hanley]]<br>[[Mike Hill (film editor)|Mike Hill]]
| editing = {{Plainlist|
* [[Daniel P. Hanley]]
* [[Mike Hill (film editor)|Mike Hill]]
}}
| production design = [[Michael Corenblith]]
| studio = [[Imagine Entertainment]]<br>[[Working Title Films]]<br>[[Relativity Media]]<br>[[StudioCanal]]
| studio = {{Plainlist |
* [[Imagine Entertainment]]
* [[Working Title Films]]
* [[StudioCanal]]
}}
| distributor = [[Universal Pictures]]
| distributor = [[Universal Pictures]] (international)<br>StudioCanal (France)<ref name=BOM/>
| released = October 15, 2008 <small>(London Film Festival)</small><br />December 5, 2008 <small>(U.S., limited)</small><br />January 23, 2009<ref>{{imdb title|id=0870111|title=Frost/Nixon}}</ref> <small>(U.K./U.S., wide)</small>
| released = {{Film date|2008|10|15|[[London Film Festival|London]]|2008|12|05|United States|2009|01|23|United Kingdom|2009|04|01|France}}<!--- per [[WP:FILMRELEASE]], initial release and countries of production --->
| runtime = 122 minutes
| runtime = 122 minutes
| country = {{Plainlist|
| country = [[Cinema of the United Kingdom|United Kingdom]]<br/>[[Cinema of the United States|United States]]
* United States
| language = [[English language|English]]
* United Kingdom
| budget = [[United States dollar|US$]]25,000,000
* France
| gross = US$27,015,079 (worldwide)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=frostnixon.htm|title=Frost/Nixon (2008)|publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]|accessdate=2009-04-21}}</ref>
}}
| language = English
| budget = $25 million<ref name=BOM/>
| gross = $27.4 million<ref name=BOM>{{cite web |url= https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=frostnixon.htm |title= Frost/Nixon (2008) |publisher= [[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date= 2009-04-21}}</ref>
}}
}}
'''''Frost/Nixon''''' is a [[2008 in film|2008]] [[List of historical drama films|historical drama film]] based on the [[Frost/Nixon (play)|eponymous play]] by [[Peter Morgan]], writer of ''[[The Queen (film)|The Queen]]'', which dramatizes the [[The Nixon Interviews|Frost/Nixon interviews]] of 1977. The film version was directed by [[Ron Howard]] and produced by [[Brian Grazer]] of [[Imagine Entertainment]] and [[Tim Bevan]] and [[Eric Fellner]] of [[Working Title Films]] for [[Universal Pictures]].
'''''Frost/Nixon''''' is a 2008 [[List of historical period drama films and series|historical drama film]] based on the [[Frost/Nixon (play)|2006 play]] by [[Peter Morgan]], who also adapted the screenplay. The film tells the story behind the [[The Nixon Interviews|Frost/Nixon interviews]] of 1977. The film was directed by [[Ron Howard]]. A co-production of the United States, the United Kingdom and France, the film was produced for [[Universal Pictures]] by Howard, [[Brian Grazer]] of [[Imagine Entertainment]], and [[Tim Bevan]] and [[Eric Fellner]] of [[Working Title Films]], and received five [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] nominations, including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]], [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]], and [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]].


The film reunites its original two stars from the [[West End theatre|West End]] and [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] productions of the play, [[Michael Sheen]] as [[British people|British]] [[Television broadcasting|television broadcaster]] [[David Frost]] and [[Frank Langella]] as former [[United States]] [[President of the United States|President]] [[Richard Nixon]]. Filming began on August 27, 2007. The film was first released at the [[London Film Festival]] on October 15, 2008, before expanding to a wider release in the U.S. on January 23, 2009. The film received generally favorable reviews and grossed [[United States dollar|US$]]27 million worldwide prior to its release on [[home video]] on April 21, 2009.
The film reunites the original two stars from the [[West End theatre|West End]] and [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] productions of the play: [[Michael Sheen]] as British television broadcaster [[David Frost]] and [[Frank Langella]] as former [[United States]] President [[Richard Nixon]]. It was released in the United States on December 5, 2008, and in the United Kingdom on January 23, 2009. Despite critical acclaim, the film underperformed at the box office, grossing $27 million on a budget of $25 million.


==Plot==
==Plot==
After the [[Watergate scandal]] of 1972 and his subsequent resignation in 1974, 400 million people worldwide watch on television as [[President of the United States|United States President]] [[Richard Nixon]] departs the [[White House]] aboard [[Marine One]]. Among those watching is British journalist [[David Frost]], who is recording a talk show in Australia at the time, and who decides to pursue an interview with the President. Nixon's literary agent, [[Irving Lazar]], believes the interviews would be an opportunity for Nixon to salvage his reputation and profit financially. Lazar demands $500,000, ultimately securing $600,000 after Frost accepts.
A series of news reports documents the role of [[Richard Nixon]] in the [[Watergate scandal]], prior to [[Richard Nixon's resignation speech|his resignation speech]]. Meanwhile, David Frost has finished recording an episode of his talk show and watches on television as Nixon leaves the White House.


After persuading his friend and producer [[John Birt]] that the interviews could be a success, Frost flies with Birt to California to meet with Nixon. Aboard the plane, Frost flirts with a young woman named Caroline Cushing, and the pair begin a relationship as she tags along for the trip. Frost struggles to sell the interviews to American networks, and decides to finance the project with private money. He brokers his own deals with advertisers and local television stations to syndicate the broadcast of the interviews. He and Birt hire two investigators, [[Robert Zelnick|Bob Zelnick]] and [[James Reston Jr.|Jim Reston]], to help Frost prepare. Frost is unsure as to what he wants to achieve from the interviews; Reston encourages him to aim for a confession from Nixon.
A few weeks later in the [[London Weekend Television]] (LWT) central office, Frost discusses with his producer and friend, [[John Birt]], the possibility of an interview. When Frost mentions Nixon as the subject, Birt doubts the likelihood that Nixon would be willing to talk to Frost. Frost then tells Birt that 400 million people watched President Nixon's resignation on live television.


Under scrutiny by Nixon's post-presidential chief of staff, [[Jack Brennan]], Frost and Nixon embark on the first three recording sessions. Frost is restricted by an agreed-upon time frame and, under pressure from his own team, attempts to ask tough questions. However, Nixon dominates the sessions regarding the [[Vietnam War]] and his achievements in foreign policy. Behind the scenes, Frost's team is nervous about his capacity as a journalist and angry that Nixon appears to be exonerating himself. Frost also struggles to obtain sponsors to pay for the interviews, and his talk show in [[London]] is cancelled.
Nixon is shown recovering from illness in [[La Casa Pacifica]], in [[San Clemente]], [[California]], discussing his memoirs with literary agent [[Irving "Swifty" Lazar]], who tells the former president of a request by Frost to conduct an interview with an offer of $600,000.


Four days before the final interview, which will focus on Watergate, Frost receives a phone call from an inebriated Nixon. In a drunken rant, Nixon declares that they both know the final interview will make or break their careers. He compares himself to Frost, insisting that they both came from humble backgrounds and had to struggle to make it to the top of their fields, only to be knocked back down again. Frost gains new insight into his subject, while Nixon assures Frost that he will do everything in his power to emerge the victor of the final interview. The conversation spurs Frost into action; for the next three days, he works relentlessly to prepare as Reston pursues a lead at the [[United States Supreme Court Building|Federal Courthouse library]] in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]].
Frost and Birt fly to California to meet with Nixon and Frost meets an attractive woman, Caroline Cushing. At [[La Casa Pacifica]], Frost makes the first partial payment of $200,000. However, Nixon's post-presidential chief of staff [[Jack Brennan]] doubts that Frost will be able to pay the entire amount.


As the final interview begins, Frost ambushes Nixon with damning transcripts of a conversation between Nixon and [[Charles Colson]] that Reston dug up in Washington. As his own team watches in horror from an adjoining room, Nixon admits that he did unethical things, adding, "When the President does it, that means it's not illegal." A stunned Frost is on the verge of inducing a confession when Brennan bursts in and disrupts the recording. After Nixon and Brennan confer, the interview resumes. Frost adheres to his original line of questioning; Nixon admits that he participated in a cover-up and that he "let the American people down."
Frost manages to finance the entire fee, by selling his shares in LWT and by calling in help from wealthy friends. He hires two investigators, [[Bob Zelnick]] and [[James Reston Jr.]] to dig for information along with Birt, mainly on the [[Watergate scandal]]. During the research process, Reston mentions a lead in the Federal Courthouse in D.C. that he thinks he can lock down with a week of work, but Frost decides against it. Frost is shown trying to sell the series of four interviews to the U.S. broadcast networks, but they all turn him down. Despite the financial issues, Frost is able to finance the hiring of recording equipment and a venue and the interviews begin.


Some time after the interviews have aired, Frost and Cushing pay a farewell visit to Nixon at his villa. Frost thanks Nixon for the interviews and Nixon, graciously admitting defeat, thanks Frost in return and wishes him well. Frost gives Nixon a pair of Italian shoes identical to the ones Frost wore during the interviews that Nixon had admired. In a private moment, Nixon asks about the night he drunkenly called Frost, implying that he has no recollection of the event. For the first time, Nixon addresses Frost by his first name. Nixon watches Frost and Cushing leave before placing the shoes on the villa's stone railing and solemnly looking out at the sunset.
Over the first eleven recording sessions, Frost is shown struggling to ask planned questions of Nixon, with Nixon able to take up much of the time during the sessions by making long speeches without enabling Frost to challenge him. The former president fences ably on the Vietnam section and is able to dominate in the area where he had substantial achievements&mdash;foreign policy related to Russia and China. Frost's editorial team appears to be breaking apart as Zelnick and Reston express anger that Nixon appears to be exonerating himself, and Reston belittles Frost's abilities as an interviewer.


A textual epilogue states that the interviews were wildly successful and that Nixon never escaped controversy until [[Death and state funeral of Richard Nixon|his death from a stroke in 1994]].
Four days before the final session on Watergate, Frost is in his hotel room when he receives a phone call from Nixon. The drunk Nixon tells Frost that they both know the final interview will make or break the other's career. If Frost fails to implicate Nixon definitively in the Watergate scandal, then Frost will have allowed Nixon to revive his political career at the expense of Frost, who will have an unsellable series of interviews and be bankrupt.

The conversation knocks Frost into action, as until now, having spent most of his time selling the show to networks and gaining advertisers, Frost resolves to ensure that the final interview will be successful. He calls Reston and tells him to follow up on the federal courthouse hunch and works relentlessly for three days.

As the final recording begins, Frost is a much sterner adversary, providing evidence of Nixon's full involvement and bringing up damning information about [[Charles Colson]] that Reston uncovered, causing Nixon to admit that he did things that would otherwise be illegal, were he not the president. Frost asks if the president took part in a [[cover-up]], at which point Brennan bursts in and stops the recording as Nixon is visibly unable to answer. After Nixon and Brennan confer in a side room, Nixon returns to the interview, admitting that he participated in a cover-up and "let the American people down," and that his political life was now over.

Shortly before Frost returns to the UK, he and Caroline visit Nixon in his villa and Frost thanks him for the interviews. Nixon questions Frost if they really had a discussion on the phone, and asks what they discussed. Frost tells him about the initial part of the call, and bids goodbye to Nixon.


==Cast==
==Cast==
{{cast list|
*[[Frank Langella]] as [[Richard Nixon]]
*[[Michael Sheen]] as [[David Frost]]
* [[Frank Langella]] as [[Richard Nixon]]
*[[Patty McCormack]] as [[Pat Nixon]]
* [[Michael Sheen]] as [[David Frost]]
*[[Kevin Bacon]] as [[Jack Brennan]]
* [[Kevin Bacon]] as [[Jack Brennan]]
*[[Oliver Platt]] as [[Bob Zelnick]]
* [[Rebecca Hall]] as Caroline Cushing
*[[Sam Rockwell]] as [[James Reston Jr.]]
* [[Toby Jones]] as [[Irving Paul Lazar|Irving "Swifty" Lazar]]
*[[Matthew Macfadyen]] as [[John Birt]]
* [[Matthew Macfadyen]] as [[John Birt]]
*[[Rebecca Hall]] as [[Caroline Cushing]]
* [[Oliver Platt]] as [[Bob Zelnick]]
*[[Toby Jones]] as [[Swifty Lazar]]
* [[Sam Rockwell]] as [[James Reston Jr.]]
*[[Andy Milder]] as [[Frank Gannon]]
* [[Clint Howard]] as Lloyd Davis
*[[Gene Boyer]] as himself
* [[Patty McCormack]] as [[Pat Nixon]]
* [[Andy Milder]] as Frank Gannon

* Keith MacKechnie as [[Marvin Minoff]]
Other real-life figures and personalities depicted in the film include [[Diane Sawyer]], [[Tricia Nixon Cox]], [[Michael York (actor)|Michael York]], [[Hugh Hefner]], [[Raymond Price]], and [[Neil Diamond]]. To prepare for his role as Richard Nixon, Frank Langella visited the [[Richard Nixon Presidential Library]] in [[Yorba Linda, California]], and interviewed many people who had known the former president.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/movies/awardsseason/04mcgr.html?_r=2|accessdate=2009-01-22|date=December 31, 2008|title=So Nixonian That His Nose Seems to Evolve|author=McGrath, Charles|work=The New York Times}}</ref>
* [[Rance Howard]] as Ollie
* [[Jim Meskimen]] as [[Ray Price (speechwriter)|Ray Price]]
* Kaine Bennett Charleston as Sydney News Director
* [[Gabriel Jarret]] as [[Ken Khachigian]]
* [[Kate Jennings Grant]] as [[Diane Sawyer]]
* [[Geoffrey Blake (actor)|Geoffrey Blake]] as Interview Director
* Gavin Grazer as White House Director
}}
Other figures and personalities depicted in the film include [[Tricia Nixon Cox]], [[Michael York (actor)|Michael York]], [[Hugh Hefner]], helicopter pilot [[Gene Boyer]] (as himself), [[Ray Price (speechwriter)|Raymond Price]], [[Ken Khachigian]], [[Sue Mengers]] and [[Jay White (impersonator)|Jay White]] as [[Neil Diamond]]. To prepare for his role as Richard Nixon, Frank Langella visited the [[Richard Nixon Presidential Library]] in [[Yorba Linda, California]], and interviewed many people who had known the former president.<ref name="McGrath2008">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/movies/awardsseason/04mcgr.html|access-date=2009-01-22|date=December 31, 2008|title=So Nixonian That His Nose Seems to Evolve|author=McGrath, Charles|work=The New York Times}}</ref> On the set, the cast and crew addressed Langella as "Mr. President". [[Warren Beatty]] turned down the role of Richard Nixon as he felt that "Nixon was not treated compassionately".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/10/warren-beatty-interview | title=Six Decades in, Warren Beatty is Still Seducing Hollywood | website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] | date=6 October 2016 }}</ref>


==Release==
==Release==
The film had its world premiere on October 15, 2008 as the opening film of the 52nd annual [[London Film Festival]].<ref name="MP">{{cite news|author= Staff writer|title= The Times BFI London Film Festival|url= http://www.movingpicturesmagazine.com/Default.aspx?DN=c049ff6b-f947-4ec3-86c8-17005d4ebc46&month=10&year=2008|work= Moving Pictures Magazine|accessdate= 2008-09-05}}</ref> It was released in three theaters in the United States on December 5, 2008 before expanding several times over the following weeks.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=daily&id=frostnixon.htm | title=Froxt/Nixon - Daily Box Office Results | work=[[Box Office Mojo]] | accessdate=2009-01-19 }}</ref> It was released in the United Kingdom and expanded into wide status in the United States on January 23, 2009.<ref name="MP"/>
''Frost/Nixon'' had its world premiere on October 15, 2008, as the opening film of the 52nd annual [[London Film Festival]].<ref name="MP">{{cite news|author=<!--Not stated--> |title= The Times BFI London Film Festival|url= http://www.movingpicturesmagazine.com/Default.aspx?DN=c049ff6b-f947-4ec3-86c8-17005d4ebc46&month=10&year=2008|work= Moving Pictures Magazine|access-date= 2008-09-05}}{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It was released in three theaters in the United States on December 5 before expanding several times over the following weeks.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=daily&id=frostnixon.htm | title=Froxt/Nixon&nbsp;— Daily Box Office Results | work=[[Box Office Mojo]] | access-date=2009-01-19 }}</ref> It was released in the [[United Kingdom]] and expanded into wide status in the United States on January 23, 2009.<ref name="MP" />


The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on April 21, 2009.<ref name="movieweb.com">http://www.movieweb.com/news/NE0Zk220M6di25</ref> Special features include deleted scenes, the making of the film, the real interviews between Frost and Nixon, the [[Richard Nixon Presidential Library]], and a feature commentary with Ron Howard.<ref name="movieweb.com"/>
The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on April 21, 2009.<ref name="movieweb.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.movieweb.com/news/NE0Zk220M6di25|title=Frost/Nixon Gets Political on DVD and Blu-ray on April 21st|date=20 February 2009|access-date=1 March 2009|archive-date=28 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728133011/http://www.movieweb.com/news/frostnixon-gets-political-on-dvd-and-blu-ray-on-april-21st|url-status=dead}}</ref> Special features include deleted scenes, the making of the film, the real interviews between Frost and Nixon, the Nixon Presidential Library and a feature commentary with Ron Howard.<ref name="movieweb.com" />


==Box office==
===Box office===
The film had a limited release at three theaters on December 5, 2008 and grossed $180,708 on its opening weekend, ranking number 22.<ref name = boxweek>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=frostnixon.htm | title=Frost/Nixon (2008) – Weenend Box Office |accessdate=2009-01-28|publisher=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> Opening wide at 1,099 theaters on January 23, 2009, the film grossed $3,022,250 at the domestic box office, ranking number 16.<ref name = boxweek>{{'}}</ref> The total gross at the domestic box office is $12,231,106, including the international box office the total gross is $14,596,107.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=frostnixon.htm | title=Frost/Nixon (2008) |accessdate=2009-01-28|publisher=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> The film grossed estimated $420,000 on January 31, 2009.<ref> {{cite journal | last = McClintock | first = Pamela | title =Box office crown 'Taken' by Fox | journal = [[Variety]] | date = January 31, 2009 | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117999391.html?categoryid=13&cs=1| accessdate = February 1, 2009}}</ref> As of February 2, 2009, the film grossed estimated $14,311,000 at the box office and $16,676,001 worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=frostnixon.htm | title=Frost/Nixon (2008) |accessdate=2009-02-02|publisher=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> The film grossed estimated $18,622,031 at the domestic box office and $8,393,048 at the international box office for a total of $27,015,079 worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=frostnixon.htm | title=Frost/Nixon (2008) |accessdate=2009-02-09|publisher=Box Office Mojo}}</ref>
''Frost/Nixon'' had a limited release at three theaters on December 5, 2008, and grossed $180,708 in its opening weekend, ranking number 22.<ref name="boxweek">{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=frostnixon.htm | title=Frost/Nixon (2008)&nbsp;– Weenend Box Office |access-date=2009-01-28|publisher=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> Opening wide at 1,099 theaters on January 23, 2009, the film grossed $3,022,250 at the box office in the United States and Canada, ranking number 16.<ref name="boxweek" /> The film's gross for Friday, January 30 was estimated the next day at $420,000.<ref name="McClintock2009">{{cite journal | last = McClintock | first = Pamela | title =Box office crown 'Taken' by Fox | journal = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date = January 31, 2009 | url = https://variety.com/2009/film/box-office/box-office-crown-taken-by-fox-1117999391/| access-date = February 1, 2009}}</ref> ''Frost/Nixon'' grossed an estimated $18,622,031 in the United States and Canada and $8,804,304 in other territories for a total of $27,426,335 worldwide, recouping its $25 million budget by a thin margin but making a loss when factoring in the significant promotional costs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=frostnixon.htm | title=Frost/Nixon (2008) |access-date=2009-02-09|publisher=Box Office Mojo}}</ref>


{{Anchor|Reception}}
==Critical reception==
Reviews of the film were largely positive. The review aggregator [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reported that 92% of critics gave the film positive reviews based on 203 reviews, with a weighted average score of 7.8 out of a possible 10.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/frostnixon/ | title=Frost/Nixon Movie Reviews, Pictures | publisher=Rotten Tomatoes | accessdate=2009-04-21}}</ref> Among Rotten Tomatoes's ''Top Critics'' which consists of popular and notable critics from the top newspapers, websites, television and radio programs, the film holds an overall high approval rating of 89%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/frostnixon/?critic=creamcrop | title=Frost/Nixon Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes | publisher=Rotten Tomatoes | accessdate=2009-04-21}}</ref> [[Metacritic]] reported the film had an average score of 80 out of 100.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/frostnixon | title=Frost/Nixon (2008):Reviews | publisher=Metacritic | accessdate=2009-04-21}}</ref>


===Critical response===
Critic [[Roger Ebert]] gave the film four stars, commenting that Langella and Sheen "do not attempt to mimic their characters, but to embody them"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081210/REVIEWS/812109987 | date=2008-12-10 | accessdate=2008-12-13 | title=Frost/Nixon - Roger Ebert | publisher=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]}}</ref> while [[Peter Travers]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' gave the film 3 1/2 stars, saying that Ron Howard "turned Peter Morgan's stage success into a grabber of a movie laced with tension, stinging wit and potent human drama."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/17192183/review/24613139/frostnixon | title=Frost/Nixon Review - Rolling Stone | date=2008-11-12 | accessdate=2008-11-13 | publisher=Rolling Stones}}</ref> Writing for ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', Todd McCarthy praised Langella's performance in particular, stating "by the final scenes, Langella has all but disappeared so as to deliver Nixon himself."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.variety.com/VE1117938715.html | date=2008-10-15 | accessdate=2009-01-27 | title=Frost/Nixon - Todd McCarthy | publisher=Variety Magazine}}</ref> Rene Rodriguez of ''[[The Miami Herald]]'', however, gave the film two stars and commented that the picture "pales in comparison to [[Oliver Stone]]'s ''[[Nixon (film)|Nixon]]'' when it comes to humanizing the infamous leader" despite writing that the film "faithfully reenacts the events leading up to the historic 1977 interviews."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/movies/reviews/story/808259.html | title=Frost/Nixon Review - History repeats itself -- unnecessarily, it seems | publisher=The Miami Herald | date=2008-11-11 | accessdate=2008-11-13}}</ref>
On review aggregation website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an approval rating of 93% based on 258 reviews, with a weighted average score of 8.00/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "''Frost/Nixon'' is weighty and eloquent; a cross between a boxing match and a ballet with Oscar worthy performances."<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/frostnixon/ | title= Frost/Nixon | work= [[Rotten Tomatoes]] | access-date=June 5, 2021}}</ref> [[Metacritic]] gives the film an average score of 80 out of 100, based on 38 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/frostnixon | title=Frost/Nixon (2008):Reviews | work = [[Metacritic]] | access-date=2009-04-21}}</ref>


Critic [[Roger Ebert]] gave the film four stars, commenting that Langella and Sheen "do not attempt to mimic their characters, but to embody them."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081210/REVIEWS/812109987 | date=2008-12-10 | author=Roger Ebert | author-link=Roger Ebert | access-date=2008-12-13 | title=Frost/Nixon&nbsp;— Roger Ebert | publisher=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] | archive-date=2013-03-17 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317152653/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20081210%2FREVIEWS%2F812109987 | url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Peter Travers]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' gave the film 3½ stars, saying that Ron Howard "turned Peter Morgan's stage success into a grabber of a movie laced with tension, stinging wit and potent human drama."<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/frost-nixon-20081211 | title=Frost/Nixon Review | date=2008-11-12 | access-date=2011-03-10 | magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> Writing for ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', Todd McCarthy praised Langella's performance in particular, stating, "by the final scenes, Langella has all but disappeared so as to deliver Nixon himself."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.variety.com/VE1117938715.html | date=2008-10-15 | author = Todd McCarthy | access-date=2009-01-27 | title= Review: "Frost/Nixon" | publisher=Variety Magazine}}</ref> René Rodríguez of ''[[The Miami Herald]]'' gave the film two stars and commented that the picture "pales in comparison to [[Oliver Stone]]'s ''[[Nixon (film)|Nixon]]'' when it comes to humanizing the infamous leader" despite writing that the film "faithfully reenacts the events leading up to the historic 1977 interviews."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/movies/reviews/story/808259.html |title=Frost/Nixon Review&nbsp;— History repeats itself -- unnecessarily, it seems |publisher=The Miami Herald |date=2008-11-11 |access-date=2008-11-13 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Manohla Dargis of ''[[The New York Times]]'' said, "stories of lost crowns lend themselves to drama, but not necessarily audience-pleasing entertainments, which may explain why ''Frost/Nixon'' registers as such a soothing, agreeably amusing experience, more palliative than purgative."<ref name="Dargis2008">{{cite journal | last = Dargis | first = Manohla | title = Movie Review Frost/Nixon (2008) | journal = [[The New York Times]] | date = December 5, 2008 | url = https://movies.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/movies/05fros.html | access-date = January 28, 2009 }}</ref>
Manohla Dargis of ''[[The New York Times]]'' said, "stories of lost crowns lend themselves to drama, but not necessarily audience-pleasing entertainments, which may explain why ''Frost/Nixon'' registers as such a soothing, agreeably amusing experience, more palliative than purgative."<ref>{{cite journal | last = Dargis | first = Manohla | title = Movie Review Frost/Nixon (2008) | journal = [[The New York Times]] | date = December 5, 2008 | url = http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/movies/05fros.html?ref=movies | accessdate = January 28-2009 }}</ref> [[David Edelstein]] of ''[[New York Magazine]]'' wrote that the film overstated the importance of its basis, the Frost interview, stating it "elevates the 1977 interviews Nixon gave (or, rather, sold, for an unheard-of $600,000) to English TV personality David Frost into a momentous event in the history of politics and media."<ref name="newyork">Edelstein, David, [http://nymag.com/movies/reviews/52586/ ''Unholy Alliance Frost/Nixon’s iconic TV moment seems quaint after Couric/Palin''], ''New York Magazine'', November 30, 2008</ref> Edelstein also noted that "with selective editing, Morgan makes it seem as if Frost got Nixon to admit more than he actually did."<ref name="newyork"/> Edelstein wrote that the film "is brisk, well crafted, and enjoyable enough, but the characters seem thinner (Sheen is all frozen smiles and squirms) and the outcome less consequential."<ref name="newyork"/>


==Historical accuracy==
===Noted fiction and inaccuracies===
Both the film and [[Frost/Nixon (play)|the play]] take [[dramatic license]] with the on-air and behind-the-scene details of [[the Nixon interviews]].<ref name="zelnick08">{{cite web | title= Where Hollywood Meets History: ''Frost/Nixon'' | date= November 17, 2008 | work= BU Today | publisher= [[Boston University]] | url= http://www.bu.edu/today/world/2008/11/14/where-hollywood-meets-history-frost-nixon | access-date= 2010-08-28 | archive-date= 2010-01-16 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100116210943/http://www.bu.edu/today/world/2008/11/14/where-hollywood-meets-history-frost-nixon | url-status= dead }}</ref><ref name="featcomm">{{cite video |people= [[Ron Howard]] (director) |date= 2009 |title=Frost/Nixon (Feature commentary) |medium= DVD |publisher= [[Universal Studios Home Entertainment]] |time= 1:19:10 - 1:24:46}}</ref> [[Jonathan Aitken]], one of Nixon's official biographers who spent much time with the former president at La Casa Pacifica, rebukes the film for its portrayal of a drunken Nixon making a late-night phone call as never having happened. [[Ron Howard]] discussed the scene on his [[audio commentary|feature commentary]] for the DVD release, pointing out it was a deliberate act of dramatic license, and while Frost never received such a phone call, "it was known that Richard Nixon, during ...the Watergate scandal, had occasionally made midnight phone calls that he couldn't very well recall the following day."<ref name="featcomm" /> [[Elizabeth Drew]] of the ''[[Huffington Post]]'' and author of ''Richard M. Nixon'' (2007) noted some inaccuracies, including a misrepresentation of the end of the interviews, the failure to mention the fact that Nixon received 20% of the profits from the interviews, and what she says are inaccurate representations of some of the characters. Drew points out a critical line in the movie that is particularly deceptive: Nixon admitted he "'...was involved in a 'cover-up,' as you call it.' The ellipsis is of course unknown to the audience, and is crucial: What Nixon actually said was, 'You're wanting me to say that I participated in an illegal cover-up. No!'"<ref name="huffpodrew">{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-drew/ifrostnixoni-a-dishonorab_b_150948.html | title=Frost/Nixon: A Dishonorable Distortion of History | date=2008-12-14 | access-date=2008-12-23 | publisher=Huffington Post}}</ref>
Several historical inaccuracies were noted in the film by multiple sources, including Nixon biographers [[Jonathan Aitken]] and [[Elizabeth Drew]]. Aitken, one of Nixon's official biographers, spent much time with the former president at La Casa Pacifica and rebukes the film's portrayal of a drunk Nixon and a late night phone call as never having happened and "from start to finish, an artistic invention by the scriptwriter Peter Morgan."<ref name="dailymail">{{cite news|title=Nixon v Frost: The true story of what really happened when a British journalist bullied a TV confession out of a disgraced wx-President|accessdate=2009-01-29|date=January 24, 2009|work=The Daily Mail|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1127039/Nixon-v-Frost-The-true-story-really-happened-British-journalist-bullied-TV-confession-disgraced-ex-President.html|author=Aitken, Jonathan}}</ref> Aitken remembers that "Frost did not ambush Nixon during the final interview into a damaging admission of guilt. What the former president 'confessed' about Watergate was carefully pre-planned. It was only with considerable help and advice from his adversary's team that Frost managed to get much more out of Nixon, in the closing sequences, by reining in his fierce attitude and adopting a gentler approach."<ref name="dailymail"/>


According to a 2014 ''[[Baltimore Sun]]'' article by Jules Witcover, Nixon didn't admit his guilt until he was interviewed in 1983 by former White House aide Frank Gannon (played by Andy Milder in the film).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Witcover |first1=Jules |title=Finally, Nixon admits guilt [Commentary] |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/op-ed/bs-ed-witcover-0812-20140811-story.html |website=www.baltimoresun.com |date=11 August 2014 |publisher=Baltimore Sun |access-date=1 August 2022}}</ref>
[[Elizabeth Drew]] of the ''[[Huffington Post]]'' and author of ''Richard M. Nixon'' noted some inaccuracies, including a misrepresentation of the end of the interview, a lack of mention of the fact that Nixon received 20% of the profits from the interview, and what she purports to be inaccurate representation of some of the characters at hand.<ref name="huffpodrew">{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-drew/ifrostnixoni-a-dishonorab_b_150948.html | title=Frost/Nixon: A Dishonorable Distortion of History | date=2008-12-14 | accessdate=2008-12-23 | publisher=Huffington Post}}</ref> Though generally liked by critic Daniel Eagan, he notes that partisans on both sides have questioned the accuracy of the film's script.<ref>{{cite web|title=Film Review: Frost/Nixon|url=http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/esearch/e3ie74177a2fee1ea6d11e2c1318877c3b6?imw=Y|accessdate=2009-01-23|publisher=Film Journal International}}</ref>


[[David Edelstein]] of ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' wrote that the film overstates the importance of its basis, the Frost interviews, stating it "elevates the 1977 interviews Nixon gave (or, rather, sold, for an unheard-of $600,000) to British TV personality David Frost into a momentous event in the history of politics and media."<ref name="newyork">Edelstein, David, [https://nymag.com/movies/reviews/52586/ ''Unholy Alliance Frost/Nixon’s iconic TV moment seems quaint after Couric/Palin''], ''New York Magazine'', November 30, 2008</ref> Edelstein also noted that "with selective editing, Morgan makes it seem as if Frost got Nixon to admit more than he actually did."<ref name="newyork" /> Edelstein wrote that the film "is brisk, well crafted, and enjoyable enough, but the characters seem thinner (Sheen is all frozen smiles and squirms) and the outcome less consequential."<ref name="newyork" />
Fred Schwarz writing for the ''[[National Review]]'' online commented that, "''Frost/Nixon'' is an attempt to use history, assisted by plenty of dramatic license, to retrospectively turn a loss into a win. By all accounts, ''Frost/Nixon'' does a fine job of dramatizing the negotiations and preparation that led up to the interviews. And it’s hard to imagine Frank Langella, who plays a Brezhnev-looking Nixon, giving a bad performance. Still, the movie’s fundamental premise is just plain wrong."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZmRjNWU0YTliMGJmZWY4OTY1ZjUwMzRmNDViOTY1Zjg=&w=MA== | title=Frost/Nixon’s Self-Congratulatory Revisionism | publisher The National Review Online | date=2008-12-05 | accessdate=2008-12-27}}</ref>


Writing for the conservative ''[[National Review]]'', Fred Schwarz, who deemed the [[Nixon interviews|Frost/Nixon interviews]] "a notorious fizzle", commented that, the film "is an attempt to use history, assisted by plenty of dramatic license, to retrospectively turn a loss into a win. By all accounts, ''Frost/Nixon'' does a fine job of dramatizing the negotiations and preparation that led up to the interviews. And it’s hard to imagine Frank Langella, who plays a [[Leonid Brezhnev|Brezhnev]]-looking Nixon, giving a bad performance. Still, the movie’s fundamental premise is just plain wrong."<ref name="Schwarz">{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2008/12/frostnixons-self-congratulatory-revisionism-fred-schwarz/ | title=Frost/Nixon's Self-Congratulatory Revisionism | publisher =The National Review Online | date=2008-12-05 | access-date=2008-12-27}}</ref> Though generally approving, critic Daniel Eagan notes that partisans on both sides have questioned the accuracy of the film's script.<ref>{{cite web|title=Film Review: Frost/Nixon|publisher=Film Journal International|url=http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/esearch/e3ie74177a2fee1ea6d11e2c1318877c3b6?imw=Y|access-date=2009-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929075431/http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/esearch/e3ie74177a2fee1ea6d11e2c1318877c3b6?imw=Y|archive-date=2011-09-29|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Top ten lists===
The film appeared on many critics' top ten lists of the best films of 2008.<ref name=mctop08>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/film/awards/2008/toptens.shtml |title=Metacritic: 2008 Film Critic Top Ten Lists |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |accessdate=January 11, 2009}}</ref> ''Movie City News'' shows that the film appeared in 72 different top ten lists, out of 286 different critics lists surveyed, the 10th most mentions on a top ten list of the films released in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://moviecitynews.com/awards/2009/top_ten/00scoreboard.htm|year=2008|author=David Poland|title=The 2008 Movie City News Top Ten Awards|accessdate=2009-01-25}}</ref> In addition, the film was selected by the [[American Film Institute]] as one of the best ten movies of 2008.<ref>[http://www.afi.com/tvevents/afiawards/ 2008 [[American Film Institute]] Awards]</ref>


Caroline Cushing Graham, in a December 2008 interview, noted that her first trip with Frost was to the [[The Rumble in the Jungle|Muhammad Ali fight in Zaire]], and that the two had been together for more than five years prior to when the film shows the two meeting. She remembered Frost as feeling that he did a pretty good job on every interview, whereas the film depicts him feeling he did a poor job with the first two interviews. She added that while the movie shows Frost driving, in fact they were always chauffeured because he was always making notes for the work he was doing.<ref name="Miriam2008">{{cite web |title=Dating David Frost |author=Miriam Datskovsky |publisher=The Daily Beast |date=December 6, 2008 |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-12-06/dating-david-frost/ }}</ref>
{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}
[[Diane Sawyer]], portrayed in the film in her role as one of Nixon's researchers, said in December 2008 that, "[[Jack Brennan]] is portrayed as a stern military guy," citing both the play and what she'd heard about the film version. "And he’s the funniest guy you ever met in your life, an irreverent, wonderful guy. So there you go. It's the movies."<ref name="Lynn2008">{{cite web |title=Diane Sawyer on Fact vs. Fiction in Frost/Nixon |author=Lynn Sherr |publisher=The Daily Beast |date=December 6, 2008 |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-12-06/diane-sawyer-on-fact-vs-fiction-in-frostnixon/ }}</ref>
*2nd - [[Ben Mankiewicz]], ''[[At the Movies (U.S. TV series)|At the Movies]]''
*3rd - [[Kenneth Turan]], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''<ref name=mctop08/>
*4th - [[David Ansen]], ''[[Newsweek]]''<ref name=mctop08/>
*4th - Frank Scheck, ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]''<ref name=mctop08/>
*4th - [[Peter Travers]], ''[[Rolling Stone]]''<ref name=mctop08/>
*5th - Peter Hartlaub, ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]''<ref name=mctop08/>
*6th - Lawrence Toppman, ''[[The Charlotte Observer]]''<ref name=mctop08/>
{{Col-2}}
*6th - [[Mick LaSalle]], ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]''<ref name=mctop08/>
*6th - [[Shawn Anthony Levy|Shawn Levy]], ''[[The Oregonian]]''<ref name=mctop08/>
*6th - [[Ben Lyons]], ''[[At the Movies (U.S. TV series)|At the Movies]]''
*7th - Michael Rechtshaffen, ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]''<ref name=mctop08/>
*10th - [[James Berardinelli]], ReelViews<ref name=mctop08/>
*10th - Ray Bennett, ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]''<ref name=mctop08/>
*Listed - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times[29] (Ebert gave a top 20 list in alphabetical order without ranking)
{{Col-end}}


==Awards and nominations==
==Awards and nominations==
{{Anchor|Awards|Accolades}}
{|class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Award Show
! Award Show
! Nominations
! Nominated for
! Nominee(s)
! Result
! Result
|-
|-
| [[66th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globes]]
| rowspan="5" | [[81st Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]
| Best Motion Picture
| [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]]
| [[Brian Grazer]], Ron Howard and [[Eric Fellner]]
|style="background:tomato;"| Nominated
| {{Nom}}
|-
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| Golden Globes
| Ron Howard
| Best Actor ([[Frank Langella|Langella]])
| {{Nom}}
|style="background:tomato;"| Nominated
|-
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| Golden Globes
| [[Frank Langella]]
| Best Director ([[Ron Howard|Howard]])
| {{Nom}}
|style="background:tomato;"| Nominated
|-
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| Golden Globes
| [[Peter Morgan]]
| Best Original Score (Zimmer)
| {{Nom}}
| style="background:tomato;"| Nominated
|-
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Film Editing|Best Film Editing]]
| Golden Globes
| [[Mike Hill (film editor)|Mike Hill]] and [[Daniel P. Hanley]]
| Best Screenplay ([[Peter Morgan|Morgan]])
| {{Nom}}
| style="background:tomato;"| Nominated
|-
|-
| [[Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards 2008|Vegas Film Society]]
| rowspan="6" | [[62nd British Academy Film Awards|British Academy Film Awards]]
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| Best Actor (Langella)
| Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Eric Fellner and [[Tim Bevan]]
| style="background:cornflowerblue;"| Won
| {{Nom}}
|-
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| Vegas Film Society
| Ron Howard
| Best Director
| {{Nom}}
| style="background:cornflowerblue;"| Won
|-
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| Vegas Film Society
| Frank Langella
| Best Editing
| {{Nom}}
|style="background:cornflowerblue;"| Won
|-
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| Vegas Film Society
| Best Film
| Peter Morgan
| {{Nom}}
|style="background:cornflowerblue;"| Won
|-
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]]
| Vegas Film Society
| Mike Hill and Daniel P. Hanley
| Best Screenplay
| {{Nom}}
|style="background:cornflowerblue;"| Won
|-
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Makeup and Hair|Best Makeup and Hair]]
| [[15th Screen Actors Guild Awards|Screen Actors Guild]]
| [[Edouard F. Henriques]] and Kim Santantonio
| Best Actor (Langella)
| {{Nom}}
| style="background:tomato;"| Nominated
|-
|-
| rowspan="5" | [[66th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globes Awards]]
| Screen Actors Guild
| Best Cast (A.K.A. Best Picture)
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Drama|Best Motion Picture - Drama]]
| ''Frost/Nixon''
| style="background:tomato;"| Nominated
| {{Nom}}
|-
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama|Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama]]
| [[81st Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]
| Frank Langella
| Best Picture
| {{Nom}}
| style="background:tomato;"| Nominated
|-
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| Academy Awards
| Ron Howard
| Best Actor (Langella)
| {{Nom}}
| style="background:tomato;"| Nominated
|-
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]]
| Academy Awards
| [[Hans Zimmer]]
| Best Adapted Screenplay
| {{Nom}}
| style="background:tomato;"| Nominated
|-
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]]
| Academy Awards
| Peter Morgan
| Best Director (Howard)
| {{Nom}}
| style="background:tomato;"| Nominated
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[15th Screen Actors Guild Awards|Screen Actors Guild Awards]]
| Academy Awards
| [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role|Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role]]
| Best Editing
| Frank Langella
| style="background:tomato;"| Nominated
| {{Nom}}
|-
|-
| [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture|Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture]]
| [[62nd British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA Awards]]
| [[Kevin Bacon]], [[Rebecca Hall]], [[Toby Jones]], Frank Langella, [[Matthew MacFadyen]], [[Oliver Platt]], [[Sam Rockwell]] and [[Michael Sheen]]
| Best Film
| {{Nom}}
| style="background:tomato;"| Nominated
|-
|-
| rowspan="5" | Las Vegas Film Society
| BAFTA Awards
| Best Director
| style="background:tomato;"| Nominated
|-
| BAFTA Awards
| Best Actor
| Best Actor
| Frank Langella
| style="background:tomato;"| Nominated
| {{Won}}
|-
|-
| Best Director
| BAFTA Awards
| Ron Howard
| Best Screenplay-Adapted
| {{Won}}
| style="background:tomato;"| Nominated
|-
|-
| BAFTA Awards
| Best Editing
| Best Editing
| Mike Hill and Daniel P. Hanley
| style="background:tomato;"| Nominated
| {{Won}}
|-
| Best Film
| ''Frost/Nixon''
| {{Won}}
|-
| Best Screenplay
| Peter Morgan
| {{Won}}
|-
|-
| BAFTA Awards
| Best Make up and Hair
| style="background:tomato;"| Nominated
|}
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{imdb title|id=0870111|title=Frost/Nixon}}
* {{IMDb title|0870111}}
*[http://www.frostnixon.net/ Official website]
* {{rotten-tomatoes|frostnixon}}
*[http://www.frostnixon.com/ The Original Interviews website]
* {{Metacritic film}}
*[http://www.universalpicturesawards.com/ Universal Pictures Awards]
* {{mojo title|frostnixon}}
*[http://the-numbers.com/movies/2008/FRSNX.php Frost/Nixon box office information at The Numbers]
* {{rotten-tomatoes|id=frostnixon|title=Frost/Nixon}}
* {{metacritic film|id=frostnixon|title=Frost/Nixon}}
* {{mojo title|id=frostnixon|title=Frost/Nixon}}
* http://talksport.cerosmedia.com/1R496782495aad0012.cde/page/27 Video interview with Michael Sheen in talkSPORT Magazine 15th Jan 2009


{{Navboxes
{{Ron Howard Films}}
|title = Awards for ''Frost/Nixon''
|list =
{{AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Movie for Grownups}}
{{San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Performance by an Ensemble}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Related topic navboxes|state=collapsed
|list =
{{Richard Nixon}}
{{David Frost}}
{{Ron Howard}}
{{Brian Grazer}}
{{Peter Morgan}}
{{Peter Morgan}}
}}


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Latest revision as of 19:20, 11 November 2024

Frost/Nixon
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRon Howard
Screenplay byPeter Morgan
Based onFrost/Nixon
by Peter Morgan
Produced by
Starring
CinematographySalvatore Totino
Edited by
Music byHans Zimmer
Production
companies
Distributed byUniversal Pictures (international)
StudioCanal (France)[1]
Release dates
  • October 15, 2008 (2008-10-15) (London)
  • December 5, 2008 (2008-12-05) (United States)
  • January 23, 2009 (2009-01-23) (United Kingdom)
  • April 1, 2009 (2009-04-01) (France)
Running time
122 minutes
Countries
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • France
LanguageEnglish
Budget$25 million[1]
Box office$27.4 million[1]

Frost/Nixon is a 2008 historical drama film based on the 2006 play by Peter Morgan, who also adapted the screenplay. The film tells the story behind the Frost/Nixon interviews of 1977. The film was directed by Ron Howard. A co-production of the United States, the United Kingdom and France, the film was produced for Universal Pictures by Howard, Brian Grazer of Imagine Entertainment, and Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner of Working Title Films, and received five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director.

The film reunites the original two stars from the West End and Broadway productions of the play: Michael Sheen as British television broadcaster David Frost and Frank Langella as former United States President Richard Nixon. It was released in the United States on December 5, 2008, and in the United Kingdom on January 23, 2009. Despite critical acclaim, the film underperformed at the box office, grossing $27 million on a budget of $25 million.

Plot

[edit]

After the Watergate scandal of 1972 and his subsequent resignation in 1974, 400 million people worldwide watch on television as United States President Richard Nixon departs the White House aboard Marine One. Among those watching is British journalist David Frost, who is recording a talk show in Australia at the time, and who decides to pursue an interview with the President. Nixon's literary agent, Irving Lazar, believes the interviews would be an opportunity for Nixon to salvage his reputation and profit financially. Lazar demands $500,000, ultimately securing $600,000 after Frost accepts.

After persuading his friend and producer John Birt that the interviews could be a success, Frost flies with Birt to California to meet with Nixon. Aboard the plane, Frost flirts with a young woman named Caroline Cushing, and the pair begin a relationship as she tags along for the trip. Frost struggles to sell the interviews to American networks, and decides to finance the project with private money. He brokers his own deals with advertisers and local television stations to syndicate the broadcast of the interviews. He and Birt hire two investigators, Bob Zelnick and Jim Reston, to help Frost prepare. Frost is unsure as to what he wants to achieve from the interviews; Reston encourages him to aim for a confession from Nixon.

Under scrutiny by Nixon's post-presidential chief of staff, Jack Brennan, Frost and Nixon embark on the first three recording sessions. Frost is restricted by an agreed-upon time frame and, under pressure from his own team, attempts to ask tough questions. However, Nixon dominates the sessions regarding the Vietnam War and his achievements in foreign policy. Behind the scenes, Frost's team is nervous about his capacity as a journalist and angry that Nixon appears to be exonerating himself. Frost also struggles to obtain sponsors to pay for the interviews, and his talk show in London is cancelled.

Four days before the final interview, which will focus on Watergate, Frost receives a phone call from an inebriated Nixon. In a drunken rant, Nixon declares that they both know the final interview will make or break their careers. He compares himself to Frost, insisting that they both came from humble backgrounds and had to struggle to make it to the top of their fields, only to be knocked back down again. Frost gains new insight into his subject, while Nixon assures Frost that he will do everything in his power to emerge the victor of the final interview. The conversation spurs Frost into action; for the next three days, he works relentlessly to prepare as Reston pursues a lead at the Federal Courthouse library in Washington.

As the final interview begins, Frost ambushes Nixon with damning transcripts of a conversation between Nixon and Charles Colson that Reston dug up in Washington. As his own team watches in horror from an adjoining room, Nixon admits that he did unethical things, adding, "When the President does it, that means it's not illegal." A stunned Frost is on the verge of inducing a confession when Brennan bursts in and disrupts the recording. After Nixon and Brennan confer, the interview resumes. Frost adheres to his original line of questioning; Nixon admits that he participated in a cover-up and that he "let the American people down."

Some time after the interviews have aired, Frost and Cushing pay a farewell visit to Nixon at his villa. Frost thanks Nixon for the interviews and Nixon, graciously admitting defeat, thanks Frost in return and wishes him well. Frost gives Nixon a pair of Italian shoes identical to the ones Frost wore during the interviews that Nixon had admired. In a private moment, Nixon asks about the night he drunkenly called Frost, implying that he has no recollection of the event. For the first time, Nixon addresses Frost by his first name. Nixon watches Frost and Cushing leave before placing the shoes on the villa's stone railing and solemnly looking out at the sunset.

A textual epilogue states that the interviews were wildly successful and that Nixon never escaped controversy until his death from a stroke in 1994.

Cast

[edit]

Other figures and personalities depicted in the film include Tricia Nixon Cox, Michael York, Hugh Hefner, helicopter pilot Gene Boyer (as himself), Raymond Price, Ken Khachigian, Sue Mengers and Jay White as Neil Diamond. To prepare for his role as Richard Nixon, Frank Langella visited the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California, and interviewed many people who had known the former president.[2] On the set, the cast and crew addressed Langella as "Mr. President". Warren Beatty turned down the role of Richard Nixon as he felt that "Nixon was not treated compassionately".[3]

Release

[edit]

Frost/Nixon had its world premiere on October 15, 2008, as the opening film of the 52nd annual London Film Festival.[4] It was released in three theaters in the United States on December 5 before expanding several times over the following weeks.[5] It was released in the United Kingdom and expanded into wide status in the United States on January 23, 2009.[4]

The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on April 21, 2009.[6] Special features include deleted scenes, the making of the film, the real interviews between Frost and Nixon, the Nixon Presidential Library and a feature commentary with Ron Howard.[6]

Box office

[edit]

Frost/Nixon had a limited release at three theaters on December 5, 2008, and grossed $180,708 in its opening weekend, ranking number 22.[7] Opening wide at 1,099 theaters on January 23, 2009, the film grossed $3,022,250 at the box office in the United States and Canada, ranking number 16.[7] The film's gross for Friday, January 30 was estimated the next day at $420,000.[8] Frost/Nixon grossed an estimated $18,622,031 in the United States and Canada and $8,804,304 in other territories for a total of $27,426,335 worldwide, recouping its $25 million budget by a thin margin but making a loss when factoring in the significant promotional costs.[9]

Critical response

[edit]

On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 93% based on 258 reviews, with a weighted average score of 8.00/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Frost/Nixon is weighty and eloquent; a cross between a boxing match and a ballet with Oscar worthy performances."[10] Metacritic gives the film an average score of 80 out of 100, based on 38 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[11]

Critic Roger Ebert gave the film four stars, commenting that Langella and Sheen "do not attempt to mimic their characters, but to embody them."[12] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone gave the film 3½ stars, saying that Ron Howard "turned Peter Morgan's stage success into a grabber of a movie laced with tension, stinging wit and potent human drama."[13] Writing for Variety, Todd McCarthy praised Langella's performance in particular, stating, "by the final scenes, Langella has all but disappeared so as to deliver Nixon himself."[14] René Rodríguez of The Miami Herald gave the film two stars and commented that the picture "pales in comparison to Oliver Stone's Nixon when it comes to humanizing the infamous leader" despite writing that the film "faithfully reenacts the events leading up to the historic 1977 interviews."[15] Manohla Dargis of The New York Times said, "stories of lost crowns lend themselves to drama, but not necessarily audience-pleasing entertainments, which may explain why Frost/Nixon registers as such a soothing, agreeably amusing experience, more palliative than purgative."[16]

Historical accuracy

[edit]

Both the film and the play take dramatic license with the on-air and behind-the-scene details of the Nixon interviews.[17][18] Jonathan Aitken, one of Nixon's official biographers who spent much time with the former president at La Casa Pacifica, rebukes the film for its portrayal of a drunken Nixon making a late-night phone call as never having happened. Ron Howard discussed the scene on his feature commentary for the DVD release, pointing out it was a deliberate act of dramatic license, and while Frost never received such a phone call, "it was known that Richard Nixon, during ...the Watergate scandal, had occasionally made midnight phone calls that he couldn't very well recall the following day."[18] Elizabeth Drew of the Huffington Post and author of Richard M. Nixon (2007) noted some inaccuracies, including a misrepresentation of the end of the interviews, the failure to mention the fact that Nixon received 20% of the profits from the interviews, and what she says are inaccurate representations of some of the characters. Drew points out a critical line in the movie that is particularly deceptive: Nixon admitted he "'...was involved in a 'cover-up,' as you call it.' The ellipsis is of course unknown to the audience, and is crucial: What Nixon actually said was, 'You're wanting me to say that I participated in an illegal cover-up. No!'"[19]

According to a 2014 Baltimore Sun article by Jules Witcover, Nixon didn't admit his guilt until he was interviewed in 1983 by former White House aide Frank Gannon (played by Andy Milder in the film).[20]

David Edelstein of New York wrote that the film overstates the importance of its basis, the Frost interviews, stating it "elevates the 1977 interviews Nixon gave (or, rather, sold, for an unheard-of $600,000) to British TV personality David Frost into a momentous event in the history of politics and media."[21] Edelstein also noted that "with selective editing, Morgan makes it seem as if Frost got Nixon to admit more than he actually did."[21] Edelstein wrote that the film "is brisk, well crafted, and enjoyable enough, but the characters seem thinner (Sheen is all frozen smiles and squirms) and the outcome less consequential."[21]

Writing for the conservative National Review, Fred Schwarz, who deemed the Frost/Nixon interviews "a notorious fizzle", commented that, the film "is an attempt to use history, assisted by plenty of dramatic license, to retrospectively turn a loss into a win. By all accounts, Frost/Nixon does a fine job of dramatizing the negotiations and preparation that led up to the interviews. And it’s hard to imagine Frank Langella, who plays a Brezhnev-looking Nixon, giving a bad performance. Still, the movie’s fundamental premise is just plain wrong."[22] Though generally approving, critic Daniel Eagan notes that partisans on both sides have questioned the accuracy of the film's script.[23]

Caroline Cushing Graham, in a December 2008 interview, noted that her first trip with Frost was to the Muhammad Ali fight in Zaire, and that the two had been together for more than five years prior to when the film shows the two meeting. She remembered Frost as feeling that he did a pretty good job on every interview, whereas the film depicts him feeling he did a poor job with the first two interviews. She added that while the movie shows Frost driving, in fact they were always chauffeured because he was always making notes for the work he was doing.[24]

Diane Sawyer, portrayed in the film in her role as one of Nixon's researchers, said in December 2008 that, "Jack Brennan is portrayed as a stern military guy," citing both the play and what she'd heard about the film version. "And he’s the funniest guy you ever met in your life, an irreverent, wonderful guy. So there you go. It's the movies."[25]

Awards and nominations

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Award Show Nominations Nominee(s) Result
Academy Awards Best Picture Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Eric Fellner Nominated
Best Director Ron Howard Nominated
Best Actor Frank Langella Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Peter Morgan Nominated
Best Film Editing Mike Hill and Daniel P. Hanley Nominated
British Academy Film Awards Best Film Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan Nominated
Best Director Ron Howard Nominated
Best Actor Frank Langella Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Peter Morgan Nominated
Best Editing Mike Hill and Daniel P. Hanley Nominated
Best Makeup and Hair Edouard F. Henriques and Kim Santantonio Nominated
Golden Globes Awards Best Motion Picture - Drama Frost/Nixon Nominated
Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama Frank Langella Nominated
Best Director Ron Howard Nominated
Best Original Score Hans Zimmer Nominated
Best Screenplay Peter Morgan Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Frank Langella Nominated
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Kevin Bacon, Rebecca Hall, Toby Jones, Frank Langella, Matthew MacFadyen, Oliver Platt, Sam Rockwell and Michael Sheen Nominated
Las Vegas Film Society Best Actor Frank Langella Won
Best Director Ron Howard Won
Best Editing Mike Hill and Daniel P. Hanley Won
Best Film Frost/Nixon Won
Best Screenplay Peter Morgan Won

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Frost/Nixon (2008)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
  2. ^ McGrath, Charles (December 31, 2008). "So Nixonian That His Nose Seems to Evolve". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  3. ^ "Six Decades in, Warren Beatty is Still Seducing Hollywood". Vanity Fair. 6 October 2016.
  4. ^ a b "The Times BFI London Film Festival". Moving Pictures Magazine. Retrieved 2008-09-05.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ "Froxt/Nixon — Daily Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
  6. ^ a b "Frost/Nixon Gets Political on DVD and Blu-ray on April 21st". 20 February 2009. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
  7. ^ a b "Frost/Nixon (2008) – Weenend Box Office". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
  8. ^ McClintock, Pamela (January 31, 2009). "Box office crown 'Taken' by Fox". Variety. Retrieved February 1, 2009.
  9. ^ "Frost/Nixon (2008)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  10. ^ "Frost/Nixon". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  11. ^ "Frost/Nixon (2008):Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
  12. ^ Roger Ebert (2008-12-10). "Frost/Nixon — Roger Ebert". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 2013-03-17. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  13. ^ "Frost/Nixon Review". Rolling Stone. 2008-11-12. Retrieved 2011-03-10.
  14. ^ Todd McCarthy (2008-10-15). "Review: "Frost/Nixon"". Variety Magazine. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  15. ^ "Frost/Nixon Review — History repeats itself -- unnecessarily, it seems". The Miami Herald. 2008-11-11. Retrieved 2008-11-13.[dead link‍]
  16. ^ Dargis, Manohla (December 5, 2008). "Movie Review Frost/Nixon (2008)". The New York Times. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
  17. ^ "Where Hollywood Meets History: Frost/Nixon". BU Today. Boston University. November 17, 2008. Archived from the original on 2010-01-16. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
  18. ^ a b Ron Howard (director) (2009). Frost/Nixon (Feature commentary) (DVD). Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Event occurs at 1:19:10 - 1:24:46.
  19. ^ "Frost/Nixon: A Dishonorable Distortion of History". Huffington Post. 2008-12-14. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
  20. ^ Witcover, Jules (11 August 2014). "Finally, Nixon admits guilt [Commentary]". www.baltimoresun.com. Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  21. ^ a b c Edelstein, David, Unholy Alliance Frost/Nixon’s iconic TV moment seems quaint after Couric/Palin, New York Magazine, November 30, 2008
  22. ^ "Frost/Nixon's Self-Congratulatory Revisionism". The National Review Online. 2008-12-05. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  23. ^ "Film Review: Frost/Nixon". Film Journal International. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
  24. ^ Miriam Datskovsky (December 6, 2008). "Dating David Frost". The Daily Beast.
  25. ^ Lynn Sherr (December 6, 2008). "Diane Sawyer on Fact vs. Fiction in Frost/Nixon". The Daily Beast.
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