The Assassination of Richard Nixon
Based on real-life events, this arresting psychological drama is set in 1974 and centers on Samuel Bicke (Sean Penn), an antisocial, unstable salesman with delusions of grandeur. As his life begins to disintegrate, Byck decides to take extreme measures to achieve his warped version of the American Dream: assassinating President Richard Nixon.
Member Reviews
Another great performance by Sean Penn - jungforu
The Assassination of Richard Nixon truly has only one thing in it's favor and that is Sean Penn's performance, which was amazing. Watching his character unravel was interesting and heartbreaking at the same time.
However, the plot was slow going and could have been a bit faster.Power and Nuance from Penn - Mahkinah
To fans of Sideways and The Aviator: Alexander Payne and Leonardo DiCaprio are executive producers on this film. Alfonso Cuarón also has a producer credit. But it's Penn's lead performance tjat is the reason to rent. His character is so nuanced, no wonder many critics and audiences missed this one. Take a look at Penn's journey through this one.No Taxi Driver (but Penn impresses) - Baboonvideo
ZIP-WORTHY IF: You want to see another stellar performance from Sean Penn.
REVIEW: First-time writer-director Niels Mueller thinks he is making another Taxi Driver with The Assassination of Richard Nixon. His film features a man whose life is falling apart and has misguided fury. He has an actor (in this case, Sean Penn) delivering a staggering performance of frustration and lifelong disappointment. He even has a character whose last name, Bicke, is very reminiscent of Robert De Niro's Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver. The difference, however, is that Mueller still needs to get some of the kinks worked out of his screenplay (an unfocused vision, some unlikely character associations) before he can compare himself to the work of Martin Scorsese.
That said, The Assassination of Richard Nixon is still worth watching, if only for another masterful and challenging performance from Penn (of course, Penn is almost always worth your attention). Here Penn plays Sam Bicke, a Maryland office furniture salesman who, having separated from his wife (Naomi Watts) and decided he has failed at everything in life, plots to hijack a plan and crash it into the White House and kill Tricky Dick (the film is based on the true story of Samuel Byck, who made such an attempt in 1974).
It's an intriguing drama, marked by much bitterness, disenchantment and anger.
Member Reviews
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Another great performance by Sean Penn - jungforu
The Assassination of Richard Nixon truly has only one thing in it's favor and that is Sean Penn's performance, which was amazing. Watching his character unravel was interesting and heartbreaking at the same time.
However, the plot was slow going and ...Power and Nuance from Penn - Mahkinah
To fans of Sideways and The Aviator: Alexander Payne and Leonardo DiCaprio are executive producers on this film. Alfonso Cuarón also has a producer credit. But it's Penn's lead performance tjat is the reason to rent. His character is so nuanced, no wonder ...No Taxi Driver (but Penn impresses) - Baboonvideo
ZIP-WORTHY IF: You want to see another stellar performance from Sean Penn.
REVIEW: First-time writer-director Niels Mueller thinks he is making another Taxi Driver with The Assassination of Richard Nixon. His film features a man whose life is falling ...