| RATING: | 80% |
| FORMAT: | DVD |
What could have been a fully-compelling account of an historical event with momentous political implications becomes a struggle between two rather flaccid male egos. The one, a superficial playboy utterly lacking in gravitas (David Frost); the other a disgraced former US president (Richard Nixon) trying to live down the reputation afforded him by the Watergate scandal. The former tries to change his reputation for superficiality by engaging in a heavyweight interview with Nixon that the interviewee thinks he can use to excuse his political failings because Frost is not as good as Mike Wallace.
Frost is initially very much out of his depth but comes to realize that Nixon wants to confess his sins for the entire world to see and thereby achieve some kind of expiation. This will make great television and Frost moves in for the kill as his subject finally realizes his political career can never be revived.
The screenplay conveys the essence of the moral struggle, yet the characters remain rather flat and lifeless. The drama relies heavily on the fact that we are familiar with the history behind it while offering few insights into that history save that Nixon was never loved as a child.
Shakespeare would have made a far superior drama, as flawed politicians were his specialty. But the quality of the acting is what strikes one most with this production, especially Frank LANGELLA as a man haunted by many personal demons and his guilt and shame over the reasons for his resignation from office as 37th president of the United States.
The too-many deleted scenes here could have added to the depth of the final film.
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