Spiritual Lessons From the 2009 Oscar Nominees

'Frost/Nixon': Own Up to Your Wrongdoings

5 nominations, including Best Picture

Richard Nixon wasn't thinking about confessing anything when he signed on for series of interviews with Robert Frost in 1977: He wanted to rehabilitate his career. Frost, for his part, was just looking for some juicy television ratings. But, according to this Ron Howard drama, what wound up happening was more profound—more spiritual. The California home in which the interviews took place became a makeshift, spotlight confessional, and Nixon came as close as he ever did to owning up to his political sins. "I let the American people down," Nixon says. "And I have to carry that burden with me for the rest of my life."

Did he receive forgiveness? Not from the American people, and not for a long time. But forgiven or not, Nixon seemed more at peace with himself at the end of the film. And it makes sense: Once you admit you're broken, the patch work can begin.