johnlink ranks FROST/NIXON (2008)
As Liz and I talked about this movie, she pointed out that she liked it partly because she did not live through the Watergate scandal, so everything she knew about it was the glossing over it gets in the media these days. FROST/NIXON worked for her because it put a human face to the caracature that is Richard Nixon. And while he wasn’t sympathetic, per se, it was at least easier to understand his motivation. I couldn’t have expressed it better myself. And, as I think about it now, I feel like that will be this movie’s endearing legacy.
It is the true story of talk-show host David Frost garnering an exclusive interview with Nixon post-Watergate.
I watched FROST/NIXON (2008) in theaters on 2.19.09. It was my first viewing of the film.
NOTE: THIS RANKING UTILIZES THIS SITE’S ORIGINAL SYSTEMIC ARTICLE WRITING METHOD. THE METHOD BY WHICH THE RANKINGS WERE ARRIVED AT, HOWEVER, REMAINS THE SAME.
FILM
A pretty straightforward drama from a behind-the-camera standpoint. The purpose was to be somewhat objective, to let these men tell their stories. In that, it was succesful. However, I feel like I’ve seen better films this winter and, were it my choice, would put THE WRESTLER in the Oscar race over FROST/NIXON. SCORE: 6
MOVIE
The interview scenes are enthralling. Anything with Frost and Nixon together were spectaular. Some of the peripheral stuff felt less developed, and made me wish for more Frost vs. Nixon. SCORE: 6
ACTING
The draw for this movie is the acting. Michael Sheen as Frost and Frank Langella as Nixon reprise the roles they took on for the play this film was based on. These two actors possitively dissapear into the roles. The stuff between the two of them is gold. I won’t even bother to try to flower it with hyperbole. The scene on the phone is perfect. Just watch it. SCORE: 9
WRITING
I’d be curious to see how much was in the play, and how much was fresh to the movie script. I definitely got the impression that some beats of the story were more developed than others. The talking heads stuff was a good way to get the auxiliary characters into the story, but I also felt like their dialogue was not as fully realized as the stuff between the two leads. That said, like the acting, the dialogue between Frost and Nixon is flawless. SCORE: 7
FINAL TALLY
FILM: 6; MOVIE: 6; ACTING: 9; WRITING: 7
6+6+9+7+0= 28
FINAL SCORE: 7
johnlinkmovies 
I’m actually surprised this only ranked a 7 for you. I agree with many of your comments but I sincerely feel like this deserves a slightly higher reccommendation. It’s a tough story to tell objectively, being as emotional as it was for so many people and I just thought it was done so well…