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Frost/Nixon

(2008, Rated R, Drama, Starring Kevin Bacon, Frank Langella, Michael Sheen)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 14.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Talky, play-based political drama sheds light on history.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 14 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    A man takes on a political giant and manages neither to applaud nor completely vilify him -- but rather to show him in all his complexity. At first, he appears fairly cavalier but soon enough finds a sense of purpose.
  • Violence:

    The movie's central dynamic is a verbal, not physical, joust. But some archival footage used in the film depicts men, women, and children being killed and maimed in Vietnam. Some yelling/screaming.
  • Sex:

    Mild ogling of one female character. A man wakes up next to a woman who appears to be naked, though no sensitive body parts are seen. A man asks another if he has "fornicated."
  • Language:

    "Hell," "damn," "bitch," and, toward the end, a number of "f--k"s.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Some smoking and drinking in social situations.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Frost/Nixon

Parents need to know that although kids may not be clamoring to see this talky, fairly intense political thriller, it serves as an informative introduction for teens (and adults) who want to know more about Watergate and how it brought down a sitting president. That said, the movie isn't 100 percent representative of real-life events, so more background/research may be needed. The main content of concern is a fair bit of swearing (mostly in the second half) and some heated back and forth between characters. There's also some archival footage from Vietnam, some social drinking and smoking, and a little bit of ogling/innuendo.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the film's historical accuracy. Why might filmmakers bend the facts when making a movie based on real life? How could you find out more about Nixon and Watergate if you wanted to? Parents and teens can also discuss why they think Nixon agreed to the interview with Frost in the first place. What did he gain from it? Do you think media exposure/coverage generally helps or hurts politicians? Why? How would you describe the relationship between the media and political worlds?

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 4.0

    the only bad part is the footage they used to make nixon embarresed and a couple impolite words, so if your 10 year-old kid asks if he could see frost nixon, there's no need to hesitate.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative role models

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Georgia
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    e.g. Perfect for older kids, but not for tweens

    I Love This Movie. [:

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in New Hampshire
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    Kids may find this very boring, best acting ever!

    Pretty good movie. Nixon asks Frost if he did any fornicating. Several F bombs. Nixon is drunk at one point. Great acting!!!!!!!!!!!!

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Utah
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 3.0

    Frost/Nixon is a bit slow but great acting.

    Frost/Nixon is a very good film and bio-pic form director Ron Howard I think people will like it more than i did but this best picture nominee is definetly worth seeing mainly because of it's key characters played by Frank Langella and Michael Sheen.

  6. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    AWESOME

    This movie is excellent :] for any political junkies like me. Only a few bad words.

  7. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    Very intricate plot, enjoyable!

    Many reviews of this movie have suggested that children can not see this movie but on the contrary an intelligent 9 year-old can sit down and enjoy the historical signifagance of this movie. It is informative and entertaining.

  8. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Kentucky
    I rate this title on for age 16 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message

    Good movie! Loved the acting!

    Saw it on DVD. My husband and I both enjoyed it very much. I didn't grow up in the US and the movie made me curious to do some more research on Nixon and the era...

  9. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 4.0

    Good Movie

    Well It's about nixon and mostly the president doing something illegal and then trying to cover it up

  10. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 4.0

    frost vs nixxon

    this film suprsed me because it was entertaining and smart the r is because of many f words. the film is brilliant recreation of history is entertainig yet thoughtful

  11. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 3.0

    Good

    Fantstic actors make film but its nothing special

  12. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 4.0

    Great Historical Drama

    Frost/Nixon is an excellent historical movie. It could easily have become boring, but the director does a remarkable job of keeping this from happening. Althogether, it is nicely paced, very interesting, and full of history that many of us younger adults/kids have never before been aware of. Parents: it's completely appropriate for teens. A man and a woman are shown obviously nude in bed (sensitive bits are comvered), we see a nude man and a nude woman from the back, and there is some swearing. Many kids won't understand it, but for those who will, it's great.

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