Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Sam Rockwell

A dramatic retelling of the post-Watergate television interviews between British talk-show host David Frost and former president Richard Nixon.

Flixster Users

86% liked it

22,179 ratings

Critics

91% liked it

209 critics

R, 2 hrs. 2 min.

Directed by: Ron Howard

Release Date: December 5, 2008

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DVD Release Date: April 21, 2009

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Stats: 7,449 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (7,449)


  • October 1, 2009
    I'm generally not a big fan of Ron Howard unless I'm watching a repeat of happy Days but I'm pleased to say he has made an outstanding film. The cast are brilliant but Langella and Sheen are in a class of their own. I thought that while for the most part the characters are handle...( read more)d well but I did find Frost was portrayed to be unfairly naive but that and the 5% fabrication for a bit of 'Hollywood magic' ultimately forgivable. The best thing about this film is the fact you know what?s going to happen but your still on the edge of your seat in anticipation. Great film, highly recommended!
  • September 4, 2009
    Ron Howard crafts another great film (as if he knows how to make any other type?), this time concerning the Frost interview session that ultimately led to Nixon admitting his part in the Watergate scandal and subsequent coverup attempts. Liberties were taken in this to make it mo...( read more)re interesting and intense - after all, it's about interviews. How exciting are they? Langella only vaguely resembles Nixon, but he's better than Hopkins. Michael Sheen steals the film as the suave and cocky David Frost.
  • July 18, 2009
    Ron Howard is very good at taking great material and making it as cliched as possible. Not a compliment.
  • July 14, 2009
    Powerful central performances make this surprisingly suspenseful film a delight to watch.

    Proof Ron Howard is capable of directing a good film. (Although he usually doesn't)
  • June 11, 2009
    I really really liked this film! I could have bee boring and slow but it really wasnt! It defiently deservered the best pic nominations and the oscars!
    Frank langella was PERFECT! when he says "my political life is over." you just cant help but feel sry for him as the characte...( read more)r (NIxon)
    and now i have seen all 5 movies nominated for best pic! I can now be at peace tee hee hee
    1. slumdog million and b.button. (TIe depents on my mood)
    2. Frost/Nixon
    3. Milk
    4.The reader (should NOT have been nominated although it wasnt that bad...)
  • November 4, 2009
    ...( read more)>Flixster - Share Movies

    David Frost: Are you really saying the President can do something illegal?
    Richard Nixon: I'm saying that when the President does it, that means it's *not* illegal!
    David Frost: ...I'm sorry?


    **


    Richard Nixon: I let them down. I let down my friends, I let down my country, and worst of all I let down our system of government, and the dreams of all those young people that ought to get into government but now they think; 'Oh it's all too corrupt and the rest'. Yeah... I let the American people down. And I'm gonna have to carry that burden with me for the rest of my life. My political life is over.
  • November 1, 2009
    This was quite an amazing piece of film. This was so mesmerizing watching the mental chess match going on between Nixon and Frost, that I actually forgot that those were actors portraying them. The supporting cast of Bacon, Platt, Rockwell etc, were equally as great as Langella a...( read more)nd Sheen. Frost and Nixon came across charismatic and you see the way Nixon manipulates Frost why eh was called Tricky Dick. This is a movie I highly recommend you watch for your history class that is for sure.
  • October 19, 2009
    I wasn't sure how a reworking of an interview (even this one) could be made into a compelling movie. I often shy away from films portraying people I remember well. I thought Frank Langella was excellent as Nixon, but thought
    Michael Sheen missed a few of Frost's mannerisms, altho...( read more)ugh I remember David Frost from well after this famous interview. I also wonder how true some of the behind-the-scenes stuff was. Did Frost really meet that bombshell on the airplane? Was Frost really that ignorant or how cold and manipulative Nixon was? If so, he learned his lessons well & became the possibly the most provocative "talk show" host ever in the U.S. Or, perhaps his fame just made it easier for him to get almost anyone to sit with him.............
    This is a very important film. People under the age of 50 either were not born or have little memory of much of the 60s - possibly even less knowledge of Watergate and what it was about. I advise viewers of this film to also watch the interviews with the real Nixon to gain more insight into the man and this piece of history.
  • October 18, 2009
    Amazing!
    this film is aggresive, real, strong,
    a hell of the acting, the story is heart breaking
    i love it
  • October 17, 2009
    An interesting look at an event that I had little knowledge about, not only the interviews, but all of the events surrounding Nixon. It made Nixon look a lot more human than history has made him out to be.

Critic Reviews


January 23, 2009
Nigel Andrews, The Financial Times

Director Ron Howard, less an artist of film like Van Sant, more a resourceful pro, lays his cloak down for the miraculous script and makes sure everyone can walk with dry feet towards the awards cerem... full review

December 30, 2008
Michael Sragow, The Baltimore Sun

Ron Howard has made his best movie with Frost/Nixon, an electric political drama with a skin-prickling immediacy. full review

December 25, 2008
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle

Ultimately, Frost/Nixon may be stuck in time -- but, oh, what a time it was. full review

December 25, 2008
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

All this makes for great entertainment on the big screen, though the real legacy of the Nixon interviews is more vexing than Morgan would have us understand. full review

December 12, 2008
Kurt Loder, MTV

The film is mostly talk, but it's sharp, punchy talk, and the picture is sometimes thrilling to watch. full review

December 12, 2008
Claudia Puig, USA Today

An absorbing film replete with telling moments and powerful performances. full review

December 12, 2008
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Despite a cavalcade of talent, Frost/Nixon is a middling thing. full review

December 12, 2008
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

When the movie sticks to its central dramatic conflict, it can be spellbinding. full review

December 12, 2008
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

Despite a moving, canny incarnation of the man by Frank Langella, despite a slickly entertaining coffee-table production as only Ron Howard knows how, the movie feels cooked up. In the name of dramati... full review

December 12, 2008
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

Like Doubt, this week's other stage-to-screen adaptation, director Ron Howard's Frost/Nixon pours old-fashioned theatrical juice into a cinematic bottle and lets the actors drink it up. full review

View more Frost/Nixon reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • JCD74
    April 28, 2009
    You can see a great interview with Ron Howard about F/N here:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll66KbkY6FI&feature=channel_page

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Frost/Nixon Trivia


  • Name this director. Frost/Nixon (2008) The Da Vinci Code (2006) Cinderella Man (2005)   Answer »
  • 'Frost/Nixon' (2008) is a film directed by Ron Howard.  Answer »
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  • Director: Ron "Ginger" Howard Year: 2008 Starring: Sam Rockwell Kevin Bacon Oliver Platt Frank Langella Michael Sheen  Answer »

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