Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • Thank You
    • 4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)
    • 3999. The Pianist (2002)
    • 3998. Philadelphia (1993)
    • 3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)
    • 3996. The Green Mile (1999)
    • 3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
    • 3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»3351. The Assassination Of Richard Nixon (2004)

    3351. The Assassination Of Richard Nixon (2004)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on May 19, 2021 2004, 6 - 7.9, 90-99 mins, Drama, May 21, Movies Of 2021, Review, United States
    7.6 Very poignant
    • Acting 7.7
    • Directing 7.6
    • Story 7.6
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

    Starring: Sean Penn, Naomi Watts, Don Cheadle

    Director: Niels Mueller

    Running Time: 95 mins


    The Assassination Of Richard Nixon is an American film about a furniture salesman disgruntled with the world around him who sets his sights on the man he judges guiltiest of all: the President of the United States.

    Based on a true story, The Assassination Of Richard Nixon is a remarkable watch, starring a fantastic lead performance from Sean Penn, captivating and self-aware social and emotional drama, and a blend between unsettling tension and moments of thrilling intensity.

    While it’s not known as an all-time classic, The Assassination Of Richard Nixon is one of the most underrated films that I’ve seen in a long while. It has all the ingredients of a modern classic, and feels just as relevant today as it does to its 1970s setting and its year of release in 2004.

    The thing about this film, however, is that its message isn’t quite as pointed or aggressive as you may expect. At its core, it follows the story of a man disillusioned by a society he sees as filled with greed and selfishness, and which seeks to oppress the poor, minorities, and anyone who isn’t at the top of the food chain.

    Typically, Hollywood movies with social themes of that kind are overwhelmingly pointed in their discourse, never really bringing any ambiguity into the mix. The Assassination Of Richard Nixon, though, is different, as you follow a character who is a would-be champion of that message, but can be seen as just as much of an antagonist from the same perspective.

    Much of the reason that works so well is down to Sean Penn’s fantastic lead performance. With an awkward and unsettled turn throughout, Penn really manages to inhabit the persona of a man fully disillusioned with the world around him, retreating ever further into a self-loathing shell that only makes his depression and fury worse.

    And it’s that self-inflicted anger which plays into the film’s main themes, often citing Samuel Byck, who Penn plays, as the man responsible for his own disillusionment, and separate from the plight of others that he seems to align himself with.

    It’s a fascinating idea that the film strikes up, and it’s one that makes it a far more riveting and multi-dimensional story than a pure social issue drama. On the one hand, you sympathise with a man who, at heart, is not bad. On the other, you can see his failings clear as day, suggesting that those he pins the blame for his struggles on aren’t entirely at fault.

    Throughout, as his mental state worsens and he begins to lash out more, the film’s ambiguity about how you’re meant to see this man becomes all the more fascinating. Coupled with moments of thrilling drama and some of deeply unsettling tension, this movie turns from a strong social issue drama into an enthralling character study.

    And in the end, The Assassination Of Richard Nixon never tells you how to feel about the story you’ve just seen unfold. Was Sam Byck at fault for his own struggles? Or was it really society around him that caused it all for him, and for so many others? It’s up to you to decide and interpret, something that often goes amiss in Hollywood dramas.

    Overall, I was thoroughly impressed by The Assassination Of Richard Nixon. An enthralling and captivating drama brought to life by a fantastic leading performance from Sean Penn, strong direction from Niels Mueller, and impressive tension and depth throughout, it’s a gripping watch, and that’s why I’m giving it a 7.6 overall.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. From January 1st, 2013 to December 31st, 2022, he watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    8.2

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    8.2
    December 25, 2022

    3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

    5.6
    December 10, 2022

    3969. Falling For Christmas (2022)

    6.9
    December 4, 2022

    3956. The People We Hate At The Wedding (2022)

    5.4
    December 3, 2022

    3954. Disenchanted (2022)

    7.4
    December 3, 2022

    3953. Meet Cute (2022)

    7.6
    November 23, 2022

    3934. Do Revenge (2022)

    7.0
    November 18, 2022

    3929. The Wonder (2022)

    6.7
    November 13, 2022

    3924. See How They Run (2022)

    Recommended Movies
    8.2
    Review
    February 27, 20190

    2471. Instant Family (2018)

    8.2
    Review
    October 26, 20150

    1132. Spectre (2015)

    8.6
    Review
    March 22, 20140

    497. Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939)

    8.6
    Review
    April 5, 20130

    111. The Hunger Games (2012)

    8.3
    Review
    November 2, 20180

    2333. U – July 22 (2018)

    Popular Posts
    December 31, 2022

    Thank You

    8.2
    December 31, 2022

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8
    December 30, 2022

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2
    December 29, 2022

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    7.5
    December 28, 2022

    3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)

    9.1
    December 27, 2022

    3996. The Green Mile (1999)

    7.6
    December 26, 2022

    3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)

    © 2023 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.