The Assassination of Richard Nixon

Name: The Assassination of Richard Nixon
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Thriller, Crime
Released: December 29, 2004
Duration: 95 min
Rating: 63
Cast: Don Cheadle, Naomi Watts, Sean Penn

2004

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 29 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 29 Ratings

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The Assassination Of Richard Nixon

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Movie Details & Credits

THINKFilm | Release Date: December 29, 2004 | TV-MA

Starring: Don Cheadle, Naomi Watts, Sean Penn

Summary: A chilling drama that explores and exposes the dark side of the American Dream, this film focuses on the prescient and tragic true story of Sam Bicke (Penn), a disillusioned "everyman" who, in 1974, was driven to plot the assassination of the 37th President of the United States. (ThinkFilm)

Director: Niels Mueller

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, History, Thriller, Crime

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 95 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

David Sterritt

This is one of the rare movies to explore American materialism through the eyes of an all-too-ordinary person who isn't up to the challenges of everyday life. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

Director Niels Mueller's attempt to create a middle-class "Taxi Driver" (he tips his hand a bit smugly by respelling Byck's name to evoke Travis Bickle) has a creepy, meticulous exactitude. Read full review

Empire Alan Morrison

Stark, bold drama. Read full review

Shawn Levy

See it for the star. Penn makes a film that in many respects feels low scale and ordinary into something painfully human and real. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

The movie doesn't make you care. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Penn's magnetism and hesitant line delivery create what interest there is, although the whole picture suffers from a central figure who can never get it together on any level. Read full review

Stephen Hunter

It grinds on and on without mercy. You're in the cross hairs. There is no escape. Where is that Secret Service when you need it? Read full review

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DawdlingPoet

Nov 20, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is quite a dark and emotive movie. I felt sorry for Sam, a guy who clearly struggled to be a good family man, to provide for his family and to be successful at work, he isn't so personable but he tries. All around him he hears of 'the American dream', success, he's told to be aspirational, to bend the rules to get sales but he doesn't agree, on principle he explains that he doesn't believe in lying, he feels that the government is crooked, that there's a fundamental flaw, that the way society is, had made him to be an outsider, a failure in a place that doesn't tolerate failure. He is clearly very disillusioned and becomes more isolated from friends and family as the movie continues and its sad to watch what hapens. I can understand that he feels disillusioned and desperate given the circumstances, though of course I wouldn't agree with his final actions. Sean Penn gave a very emotive performance in the movie I felt, Sam is portrayed very well as an awkward, 'jittery', fidgety middle aged guy, he plays his character very well I feel, you could see the desperation and frustration on his face, the emptiness and sadness at times and when he spoke out loudly in frustration I found it quite convincing and emotive, so I found him to be a quite believable character.

The story was of course sad but definitely interesting, its I think perhaps a good thing to have a movie that highlights that the perceived American Dream doesn't always work out and how under pressure and failed some people feel.

There are some nice classical tracks used, the soundtrack is good, it adds to the emotion of the scenes. The cinematography is also good, there are some good shots and all in all I felt its a well made movie. The ending may not be quite what you expect but its certainly quite dramatic and emotional. I also like that the movie is only just over an hour and a half long, its not a long drawn out movie that gets very slow and boring in the middle, so thats definitely a good thing. It was interesting to see where Sams friend, Bonny, came into play too. He didn't seem anything like so desperate, although being African American and working as a local mechanic, quite possibly not earning all that much, he seemed to have accepted his place in society I suppose, of course this movie is set in the 1970s so while not the 1930s or 40s there was still racism around as there still is and this is very lightly touched upon in the story. It is interesting when I think that the main character of Sam is clearly alot more affected by his realisation that he's what those around him would see as a failure, whereas Bonny is pretty much fine with where he stands.

There's a good cast to back it up and I thought it was a well thought out movie, so its worth seeing.

Yes, I'd recommend this movie. I thought it was a well made movie, with a decent cast and Penn's portrayal of Sam is particularly good. Its not a long drawn out movie, its fairly short and snappy as far as movies go and I found the character and story in general quite interesting. It is pretty dramatic near the end of the movie and so its definitely worth checking out.… Expand

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JeffM.

Aug 17, 2006

Very interesting. Penn really makes you feel for this poor bastard, but still never makes him remotely likeable. Very high degree of difficulty on that one.

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Myles#13

Sep 8, 2006

Note to future viewers: if you don't like thinking during movies, do NOT rent 'Assassination'. Sean Penn's performance is meant to make the average person realize the often meaningless-ness of their existence. 'The Assassination of Richard Nixon' played like a Note to future viewers: if you don't like thinking during movies, do NOT rent 'Assassination'. Sean Penn's performance is meant to make the average person realize the often meaningless-ness of their existence. 'The Assassination of Richard Nixon' played like a modern day 'Death of a Salesman'... in both, the lead character becomes quite disillusioned with their meager existence, and takes drastic measures. Good movie!… Expand

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