The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004)

Director:

Niels Mueller

Writers:

Kevin Kennedy (written by)
Niels Mueller (written by)

Release Date:

22 October 2004 (Greece)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The mad story of a true man.

Plot:

Based on real life events, Assassination is set in 1974 and centers on a businessman (Penn) who decides to take extreme measures to achieve his American dream.

Plot Keywords:

Government | Debt | Disgruntled Worker | Dreamer | Political

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Sean Penn	...	Samuel J. Bicke
Naomi Watts	...	Marie Andersen Bicke
Don Cheadle	...	Bonny Simmons
Jack Thompson	...	Jack Jones
Brad William Henke	...	Martin Jones (as Brad Henke)
Nick Searcy	...	Tom Ford
Michael Wincott	...	Julius Bicke
Mykelti Williamson	...	Harold Mann
April Grace	...	Mae Simmons
Lily Knight	...	Receptionist
Jared Dorrance	...	Sammy Jr.
Jenna Milton	...	Ellen
Mariah Massa	...	Julie
Eileen Ryan	...	Marie's Mother
Derek Greene	...	Joey Simmons

MPAA:

Rated R for language and a scene of graphic violence. (also edited version)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA | Mexico

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Malaysia:U (cut) | Brazil:14 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Germany:12 | Malaysia:18PL | Australia:MA | Finland:K-15 | Ireland:15A | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #40689) | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Alameda, California, USA

Company:

Anhelo Productions

Trivia:

Sean Penn was attached to this project for six years before they found the financing for it.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: As Sam is walking to his boarding gate, both a Southwest Airlines and an America West Airlines aircraft can be seen in the background. America West Airlines did not exist until 1983, and Southwest Airlines did not begin service to BWI until 1993.

Quotes:

Samuel Bicke: Slavery never really ended in this country. It just gave it another name. Employee.

Movie Connections:

Features "CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite" (1962)

Soundtrack:

Easy Sunday

This film is amazing -- 5 stars

I give The Assassination of Richard Nixon five out of five stars. It was one of the big buzz films in Toronto and I had to work every possible angle to get a ticket to the sold out screening when it made its premiere. The theater in Toronto was over a thousand seats and was packed. The audience was completely into this one -- there was plenty of earned laughter as this film has a great deal of humor before it gives way to relentless, heart-wrenching drama.

It's the story of a man who tried to kill President Nixon in 1974 and is a moving, emotional, entertaining film. Sean Penn is Sean Penn -- just the best that there is and this is as great as anything he has ever done.

I heard while I was in Toronto that the film was still being worked on after it first screened in Cannes so this was the first screening of the finished film (so I be careful when reading reviews that you are reading a review of the finished film). It is amazing, amazing, amazing and I hope it gets out to as big an audience as possible. Thank goodness filmmakers are making films that matter. 5 stars out of 5!!!!