Frost/Nixon is a 2008 American film directed by Ron Howard, based on the play of the same name by Peter Morgan. The film chronicles the events leading up to the historic televised interview between British talk-show host David Frost (played by Michael Sheen) and former U.S. President Richard Nixon (played by Frank Langella). The interview took place in 1977, more than two years after Nixon resigned from office in the midst of the Watergate scandal.
The film focuses on the personalities and motivations of both Frost and Nixon, as well as the intense preparation that went into the interviews. Frost is portrayed as a charming, skilled interviewer who is eager to make a name for himself in America, while Nixon is shown to be a shrewd, manipulative figure who is determined to rehabilitate his image and secure his place in history.
The interviews themselves are depicted in a dramatic fashion, with both Frost and Nixon at times seeming to gain the upper hand. The two men engage in a tense battle of intellects, with Frost using his charm and wit to try and draw out the truth from Nixon, while Nixon uses his political savvy to try and control the narrative.
The film is also notable for its portrayal of the behind-the-scenes negotiations between Frost and Nixon's team, as well as for its exploration of the moral and ethical questions surrounding the interviews. Was it appropriate for Frost to pay Nixon for the interviews? Did Nixon deserve a chance to redeem himself in the eyes of the public? These and other questions are raised throughout the film, making it a thought-provoking examination of power, politics, and the media.