A few things come to mind while watching Frost-Nixon, Ron Howard's mesmerizing big screen version of the stage play, which itself is based on the real 1977 television interviews between former US President Richard Nixon and fledgling producer-host David Frost.

The first is how surprisingly riveting it can be to learn all of the behind the scenes negotiations and power plays that went on before and during the landmark interviews took place. Second, is how Frost’s gamble to pay out of his own pocket to secure an interview with a disgraced President seemed so easy three decades ago.

And third, as interesting as the subject matter is, who is really the audience for such a film as Frost-Nixon? The answer to the third question could be broadcasting and history buffs, those who would like to watch how Howard has matured as a director (even securing settings actually used during the real interviews) and anyone who would like to see a mesmerizing Academy Award winning performance by Frank Langella as Nixon.

The film starts out as a kind of standard biopic and then winds its way into the most unlikely of thrillers, using only the meeting of the minds as weapons. Frost (Michael Sheen), unlike the serious BBC and Al Jazeera commentator one sees today, is portrayed as a swinging Australian TV host who has all the trappings of fame (female fans, etc.), but longs to be taken seriously.

Nixon, meanwhile, is portrayed early on as a private man who can't stand what he's been reduced to - telling dull Presidential tales at doctor's conventions - and still has political aspirations.

Frost’s considerable bid out of his own pocket to pay for interview rights is received favorably (Toby Young memorably negotiates as legendary agent Switty Lazar), and everyone in Nixon's team (including Kevin Bacon as Nixon's Chief of Staff) sees the interview as a puff piece pushover.

So do TV newsman Bob Zelnick (Oliver Platt) and zealous researcher James Reston Jr. (Sam Rockwell), who have been hired by Frost to help prepare for the interviews.

Each of them perceive Frost as a man who is not taking the task ahead seriously since he always seems to be running around with either his girlfriend or a Hollywood crowd. This all sets the stage for what could be a lopsided showdown.

And it is for a while. As the tape rolls, Frost plays into Nixon's calm assured answers and pat stories without challenging him, Yet Nixon secretly envies Frost's openness just as Frost envies Nixon's power.