Frost/Nixon
Frost/Nixon Image
See the trailer
Metascore
80 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 38 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.7 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 109 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • Starring: Frank Langella, Kevin Bacon, Michael Sheen
  • Summary: For three years after being forced from office, Nixon remained silent. But in summer 1977, the steely, cunning former commander-in-chief agreed to sit for one all-inclusive interview to confront the questions of his time in office and the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency. Nixon surprised everyone in selecting Frost as his televised confessor, intending to easily outfox the breezy British showman and secure a place in the hearts and minds of Americans. Likewise, Frost's team harbored doubts about their boss' ability to hold his own. But as cameras rolled, a charged battle of wits resulted. Would Nixon evade questions of his role in one of the nation's greatest disgraces? Or would Frost confound critics and bravely demand accountability from the man who'd built a career out of stonewalling? Over the course of their encounter, each man would reveal his own insecurities, ego and reserves of dignity--ultimately setting aside posturing in a stunning display of unvarnished truth. (Universal Pictures)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 38
  3. Negative: 0 out of 38
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    100
    Frank Langella and Michael Sheen do not attempt to mimic their characters, but to embody them.
  2. Empire
    Reviewed by: Ian Nathan
    80
    Stirring stuff that works thrillingly as drama, and should make Sheen a star, even if it compromises on historical insight.
  3. NPR
    Reviewed by: Bob Mondello
    80
    A case is being made here that it wasn't really Frost who did Nixon in: It was Nixon's old nemesis, the TV camera.
  4. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Scott Mendelson
    60
    Fails to add anything of substance to the history that it portrays.

See all 38 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 44
  3. Negative: 5 out of 44
  1. AtTheMovies
    10
    Although the outcome is obvious, the movie is still fantastic. Well acted and well written, this movie still manages to be suspenseful. It is great historical drama (it is a historical drama, right?) and a fantastic movie all around. An interesting subject matter is turned into an interesting and riveting film. Deserved the Best Picture Oscar, not Slumdog Millionaire.… Expand
  2. A_Northerner
    8
    Absorbing historical drama based on the series of interviews between British chat show host David Frost and disgraced former US President Richard Nixon in 1977.

    The film is based on the play of the same name and Michael Sheen (Frost) and Frank Langella (Nixon) reprise their characters from the stage version. This continuity gives both actors confidence in their portrayals and both give terrific performances, in particular Langella, who earned an Oscar nod for his initially snarling and defiant and later personal and sombre portrayal of Nixon.

    Frost/Nixon deals with the preparation for the interviews by both camps, an unfavoured Frost and team and an over-confident Nixon. The interviews are likened to a boxing match, with both participants retiring to their respective corners in between sparring sessions, and Nixon's chief of staff Jack Brennan (Kevin Bacon) temporarily 'throwing in the towel' on Nixon's behalf before Frost delivers the knock-out blow. In dealing with the most significant scandal in American politics, director Ron Howard has an engrossing subject matter to work with and he does a decent job behind the camera mixing in faux-documentary retrospective interviews with some of the bit part players with clever shots of the interviews from behind the camera.    … Expand
  3. TonyB.
    7
    Frank Langella's performance was deserving of the Academy Award. The film probably disappointed the Nixon haters who were looking forward to a hatchet job.… Expand
  4. LCC
    3
    Ronnie trots out one of hollywood's favorite pc villains to revile, as the audience is served up a fresh warming of this dreck. he uses every trick right from the classes in film school-- to slant the portrayal so that the audience has no doubt what it is supposed to think and feel about the man. pure unself-conscious propaganda. sure to be on the short list for the academy awards.… Expand

See all 44 User Reviews

Trailers

Related Articles

  1. Movies

    Ranked: The Best and Worst Movies Based on Plays and Musicals

    Ranked: The Best and Worst Movies Based on Plays and Musicals Image
    Published: June 14, 2012
    It's becoming increasingly clear that this week's "Rock of Ages" is not a great film. How bad will it need to be to rank among the worst stage-to-screen adaptations in recent memory, and what 10 films made the jump most successfully?
    More »
  2. Movies

    Hail to the Chiefs: Metacritic's Best and Worst President Movies

    Hail to the Chiefs: Metacritic's Best and Worst President Movies Image
    Published: February 12, 2010
    In honor of Presidents' Day Weekend, we elect the best and the worst movies to feature the American president.
    More »

Current Movie Releases

Full List »
  1. Star Trek Into Darkness
    Metascore: 73
  2. Iron Man 3
    Metascore: 62
  3. 42
    Metascore: 62
  4. Evil Dead (2013)
    Metascore: 57
  5. The Croods
    Metascore: 55
  6. The Great Gatsby
    Metascore: 55
  7. Oblivion
    Metascore: 54
  8. Pain & Gain
    Metascore: 43
  9. G.I. Joe: Retaliation
    Metascore: 41
  10. Olympus Has Fallen
    Metascore: 41
  11. The Host
    Metascore: 35
  12. Tyler Perry's Temptation
    Metascore: 27
  13. Scary Movie 5
    Metascore: 11
All Current Movies »