The Assassination of Richard Nixon (Magna Home Ent) (2004)

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General		Extras
Category	Drama	Featurette-Behind The Scenes Interviews-Cast-Jack Thompson Deleted Scenes-with Commentary by Director Niels Mueller Theatrical Trailer Trailer- Dendy Trailers Gallery-Photo
Rating
Year Of Production	2004
Running Time	91:17 (Case: 95)
RSDL / Flipper	No/No	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Niels Mueller
Studio Distributor	Magna Home Entertainment	Starring	Sean Penn Naomi Watts Don Cheadle Jack Thompson Brad William Henke Nick Searcy Michael Wincott
Case	Amaray-Transparent
RPI	$29.95	Music	Steven M. Stern

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	Unknown	No Audio Data available for this title
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.85:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.85:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	None	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

    Noted American author Kurt Vonnegut once said that Richard Nixon was a far better president than John F Kennedy. His reason? Kennedy taught Americans to place blind faith in their government and its head of state. For all his exposed dishonesty, Nixon taught Americans to question their leaders and the motives of the government.

    It is this idea that permeates every frame of first time director Niels Mueller's The Assassination of Richard Nixon. For this short, simple film is among the most scathing indictments of the American dream since Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. Every scene in this darkly hypnotic piece is a reminder that then, as now, the little man is the plaything of the society that assures him that all his sweat and toil will be rewarded.

    Of course, Richard Nixon was not assassinated. Nevertheless, this is not a wholly fictional tale.

    It is 1974. Sean Penn plays Sam Bicke. His marriage has failed, but his wife (Naomi Watts) cannot convince him that it is over. His only real friend is Bonny (Don Cheadle), a black man who runs a dilapidated garage. Sam dreams of a bold business plan involving Bonny. It is ill-conceived and bears little chance of success. Sam has a brother who is a successful tyre salesman, but for Sam success has always been out of his reach.

    However, Sam is taken under the wing of furniture super-salesman Jack Jones (Jack Thompson), who schools him in the Dale Carnegie way, teaching him that self-belief is everything. But what if that self belief goes against the desire not to cheat the customers?

    According to Jack, Nixon is the greatest salesman living today as he managed to tell the same lie twice and get re-elected by the gullible public!

    The Assassination of Richard Nixon is a slow and painful journey on a downward spiral as Sam (who wasn't very stable to begin with) declines in his mental health as his marriage and his business plans fall away. All the while, Nixon appears on TV screens wherever Sam goes, urging the American public to trust him despite the Watergate scandal reaching its final, devastating end.

    Sam always believed that Nixon, synonymous with salesmanship and the ubiquitous Cadillac motor vehicle, is a symbol of the American success story. Now it is a story gone wrong. He blames Richard Nixon for all the problems in America and begins planning a crackpot scheme to highjack a plane and crash it into the White House.

    The fact that this is based on a true story adds to the gravity of the work. Penn gives perhaps the performance of his career as Sam Bicke, skilfully showing his character's decline into madness with an understated playing that speaks volumes. His performance was criminally ignored in all the major awards and the film itself found only pockets of support.

    Perceived by many as a virulent attack on America, like Lars von Triers' Dogville, it played to better audiences abroad than at home.

    Several scenes stand out, all of which are cringe worthy. Sam is a genuine idealist believing that everyone has the right to fair treatment. His faith is both his strength and weakness. He makes a muddle-headed attempt to join the Black Panther movement.

    Further, his various meetings with the loans manager of his local bank are each more desperate than the last. In truth this is more of a character study of a declining mind rather than a fully fleshed out drama. Some may find this to be a fatal flaw in the film itself.

    It is no surprise to hear that Sean Penn had been attached to this project for 6 years before the filmmakers could get funding. The Assassination of Richard Nixon is an intensely personal and private film and one which will find only a limited audience. It is slow and gruelling. However, for those who like their character studies it offers deep characterisations miles away from the flashiness that dogs many Hollywood act-fests.

    Film lovers may draw comparisons between Sam Bicke and Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver - both men driven to extremes of violence due to an unerring belief that their actions are necessary to bring order.

    Chilling and darkly humorous by turns, The Assassination of Richard Nixon makes for rewarding viewing.

Video

    The Assassination of Richard Nixon is brought to DVD in a 1.85:1 transfer, consistent with its original aspect ratio. It is 16x9 enhanced. The film is set in 1974 and the cinematographer, Emmanuel Lubezki, captures a perfect 1970s colour palate. The film is shot through with industrial greys and greens with an appropriately muted look. The art direction also assists in conveying that 70s feel.

    Lubezki is a multi talented cinematographer. He jumped into this project immediately after the explosion of colour that was The Cat in the Hat, before going back into the gloom with his Oscar nominated work on Children of Men.

    The transfer itself is flawless. There are no artefacts or defects in the final product.

    By the end of the film we know every stress line in Penn's face and the clarity of these close up images, such as at 59:35, is commendable.

Video Ratings Summary

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Audio

    The sound for The Assassination of Richard Nixon is English Dolby Digital 5.1, running at 448Kb/s. The film is a dialogue heavy character piece and the surrounds are used sparingly.

    The dialogue itself is rendered clearly. Audio sync is not a problem.

    The film features period music as well as some classical pieces. The original music by Steven Stern is meditative in a Phillip Glass-like manner. Director Mueller uses music well, particularly in the scene towards the end of the film where Penn nervously waits to board his plane. Rather than ramp up the energy level with driving music he instead uses a gentle piano theme which contrasts well with the tension behind the moment.

Audio Ratings Summary

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Making of The Assassination of Richard Nixon (10:53)

    This could more correctly be described as "behind the scene" as it focuses on the final scene at the airport. We watch director and cinematographer go about their work whilst co-writer Kevin Kennedy describes Sam Bicke as one of the many Americans who "suffer for their expectations". It is an interesting watch, although relatively brief and without any input from the cast.

Interview with Jack Thompson (14:54)

    Jack Thompson gives the performance of his life in this file conveying an odious salesman who is yet the perfect embodiment of his craft. Thompson asks a series of questions, apparently put to him by the director, describing his interest in the role as having been piqued by the fact that it is character, rather than narrative, driven. Although Thompson makes some interesting points the interview itself is quite long and Thompson does tend to rabbit-on a bit. Nevertheless, it is great to see some local content for Region 4 buyers.

Gallery- Photos

    A series of 7 photographs from the film.

Trailer (2:20)

Dendy Trailers

Deleted Scenes (7:05)

    The Region 1 version of The Assassination of Richard Nixon has a commentary by the director. A deluxe Region 2 UK version has more, including a feature about the real Sam Bicke. Further, there is a Cannes press conference with Penn. The Scandinavian version has a DTS track but I am not convinced that the track would have added much to the movie.

    For the dedicated fan, the Region 2 would seem to be the way to go.

    The Assassination of Richard Nixon is a powerful and heartfelt drama that cuts into the underbelly of the American dream like a switchblade.

    The film is well shot, albeit bleakly so, and is presented in fine form on DVD both as to sound and vision. The extras are interesting but unfulfilling.

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