ironhorse_iv
When we were kids, we were taught that anybody that work, hard enough, can achieve upward mobility in life with his/her ability. We called this trusted belief, the American Dream. In the modern age, the whole idea of the American Dream is slowly become disillusioned, to the point, that some people, see it, nearly impossible to achieve due to issues like institutional racism, gratuitous lust, and most of all, the greed of corporatization capitalism. Anybody, wondering where, such modern pessimism, came from, would probably, look at the trouble 1970s for answers. Indeed, it was a time, where American pragmatism was at one of its lowest. Unemployment was very high, crime & violence was very rampage, and most of all, the old American values, were being soiled by dirty hands, within the government and in the job market. No wonder, why the American Dream becomes the American Nightmare for Samuel Bicke (Sean Penn), a down-on-his-luck, furniture salesman. Directed by Niels Muller & inspired by tragic, true events, the movie tells the story of an irrational man so disillusion with the American Dream, that he become a danger, not only to his friends, and family, but also to the President of the United States for who, he blames as the cause of his problems. Without spoiling the movie, too much, I kinda have to say, I hate the title of the film. The movie should had been call something else. Clearly, anybody who knows history, knows that Richard Nixon was never assassinated. Unless, it's about his career. Then, yes, I guess, that title could work. Still, the movie isn't really about President Richard Nixon. It's about, his fail assassin, becoming disillusion with the American Dream due to fact, that he cannot find success, by being an honest man. I really surprised that this movie was even made. Clearly, the studio had some questions about whether it would be a good idea to produce a film where the protagonist tries to fly a plane into a famous building just two years after 9/11, but many of the people who work with the film, persuaded them that it'd be a worse crime, not to tell this story. Despite, the movie, being very controversial, the movie was indeed well-made, both in writing and in visual storytelling. I just wish, the movie had a better framing device than the odd use of flashbacks. Still, Sean Penn was amazing as the trouble, well-meaning if slightly eccentric guy. You really could see the depth in his performance with powerful well-written scenes with both his boss, Jack Jones (Jack Thompson) & his brother, Julius (Michael Wincott). He didn't go over-the top, one bit and the supporting characters really help the film work. You see Sean Penn's character, transforms from a normal career ambitious family man into a lonely self-hating psychological killer. There was nothing cartoony about it. A great shade of grey, worth of story-telling. There is a few things, I can nitpick about the film about when it comes to historic accuracy such as the last name chance, and the fact that real Samuel Byck was quite a bit heavier than Sean Penn. When it comes to Sam's backstory being tweaked and altered, the real Sam, had four children while Sam only has two in the film. It also implied, that Sam's loan fiasco happen only a few weeks before the assassination attempt, while Byck's failure to secure a loan happened in 1972, two years beforehand. One of the biggest changes, is the fact, that the movie doesn't mention, Sam, going to a psychological ward in a last ditch, attempt to save his marriage, or the fact, that Sam went to Washington D.C, very often to protest against Richard Nixon, way before Watergate. Still, the overall storyline is much the same as the real-life events, and everything that happens at the airport in the last 15 minutes or so is entirely the same as what happened in reality. The movie ends with such a powerful anti-climax downer way that you would have to wonder, what was the point of the film? The movie clearly isn't trying hard to be an attention-grabber, but I have to say, the movie got green-lite, because the film metaphorically tells, how life is living in a post-9/11 world. While the movie is indeed set in the 1970s, a lot of viewers can see, a lot of mirror-like social tones coming off, from this movie, such as the endless wars, the deeply trouble economy, and corrupt government figures. It's both a sociological analysis of the 1970s and the 2000s. If you like this movie, check out The History Channel special, "The Plot to Kill Nixon." It's worth a watch. Overall: While, some people might not go, see this movie, due to its rough subject matter. I have to say, that the movie needs to be seem, due to its powerful message, about government, business, family and social and moral roles. It's a must-see. The film is essentially the new Taxi Driver for a new generation.
Desertman84
The Assassination of Richard Nixon is a striking psychological drama that stars Sean Penn, Don Cheadle and Naomi Watts.It is based on the story of would-be assassin Samuel Byck, who plotted to kill Richard Nixon in 1974.It was directed by Niels Mueller. Sam Bicke is a salesman for an office-supply company whose life is slowly beginning to unravel. His job is going nowhere.His wife,Marie has left him.His boss keeps pushing self-help books on him that make a mockery of his state of mind. One of Bicke's few friends is Bonny Simmons, an auto mechanic, and together they come up with an idea for a tire shop on wheels.While neither has the money to finance the project, Bicke has learned of a program for small-business loans instituted by President Richard Nixon, which he's certain will come through for him. But Bicke is denied his loan, which dovetails with his increasing suspicion of the president's Vietnam policies and a sudden interest in the "by any means necessary" political activism of the Black Panther Party. Sean Penn brings this obscure failure back to life in a vivid portrayal of a madman in the making, a madman who had a date with a gun and history.Also,the movie manages something quite remarkable, both a compassion for Bicke's wounded sense of life's betrayals, and stark revulsion for the personal logic of his bloody remedy.Although it doesn't hit Taxi Driver's level, it's still a discomfiting look at a man determined to leave his mark on the world and only to become a footnote.
Al Rodbell
Watching this film while depressed is amazing, as I did about an hour ago.Just as Bicke felt overwhelmed, that the world is against him, that's how I feel at the moment. (Note: my impulses are well under control, and transitory, but the emotion is similar) And I have to feel that Sean Penn had something like this in his own life to draw on, the vulnerability which leads to rageful hate.The scene where Bicke confronted his old boss while he was eating, and aimed the gun under the table.....I've never felt a desire to kill, but I have had the urge to hit someone to cause more than pain, but harm. Penn showed that glint of anticipatory pleasure as he was about to pull the trigger, a feeling that can't be faked.Everything about the film struck of absolute truth. Clinically, it may have been manic depression, with his manic belief in his portable tire store feeding his depression-rage when his business loan was rejected. Ultimately, after this failure and the divorce he was absolutely alone, with only his delusion of greatness by killing a world leader to sustain him.It was a pattern that was shared, ironically, with Lee Harvey Oswald, whose dreams of glory were not to be; and his job as a shipping clerk was a constant unbearable reminder of his failure. When the accident of a parade route planed only after he had been at his lowly job for months gave him the opportunity to be remembered forever by a simple squeeze of a trigger.The reality of Sam Bicke, the film following the actual event rather closely, should dispel the now widely believed conspiracy theories of JFK's death. They all create a complex web of intrigue to emotionally balance the death of America's President. The life of Sam Bicke reflects the tortured distorted existence of JFK's murderer. There is no need for an improbable conspiracy of Mafioso and high government officials to explain that event.As in this assassination that never happened, the one that did shows how the confluence of human anguish and adventitious opportunity can shape history. Bicke's actions, as depicted in this masterful film, were more than believable, they were inevitable. If the story of Lee Harvey Oswald were ever told with such skill, his actions would be finally understood, and the damage done to historiography by Oliver Stone's calumnious "JFK" would be corrected for posterity.
