Fans of Peter Morgan’s stage production of Frost/Nixon have extended this big-screen adaptation of the play a good amount of goodwill due to the Broadway stars (Frank Langella and Michael Sheen) being kept for the movie. But while I’m always in favor of character actors (especially talented veterans like Langella) getting their moments in the spotlight, judging by the trailer I’m not sure that retaining them for the movie was the right move. Part of the problem is Nixon himself, who was not merely one of the most recognizable political figures of the past half-century but also one of the most widely-imitated, making portraying the role on the big screen a challenge for any actor. And frankly, I’m not sure I like how Langella is approaching the role here- his vocal mannerisms and gestures might work onstage, but they become overbearing in the trailer, like a straight-up impersonation rather than an attempt to get under his skin. Of course, much of this no doubt has to do with the director, as “Academy Award Winning Director Ron Howard” (ugh) probably didn’t do much to discourage Langella from using the same approach to the character that he did onstage. But in a less-is-more medium like film, maybe Langella needed to ease up on the Tricky Dick stuff and just play the character, like Philip Baker Hall in Secret Honor.