Review of Nixon (1995) by Tim M — 27 Jul 2012

Oliver Stone delivers and intriguing and involving psychological portrait of the most controversial US President to date. Forming the middle of a trilogy of Presidential bio-pics, (JFK, Nixon, W), this film stands out as the best of the three, balancing the stylish bag of visual tricks Stone is fond of using with a fair-handed look at it's central character.

Where JFK was too concerned with it's opinion on the assassination, and W light on character insights and motivations, Nixon presents a full study of the infamous commander-in-chief, thanks in part to a very compelling performance from Anthony Hopkins.

Hopkins rules the film with a performance that evokes both sympathy and fear from it's audience. The moments of self doubt, where Cuba and the shadow of Kennedy bring him down, Hopkins brings a tangible pathos to the character that is well contrasted with other moments where Hopkins nearly channels his Hannibal persona as Nixon doles out ferocity and bile.

Joan Allen's part as Pat Nixon is always on the cusp of being compelling, but the movie simply makes no room for her. It's understandable as the supporting cast is an endless list of potent star power.

Paul Sorvino as Kissinger is stunning in his impersonation of the so-identifiable man. James Woods is, well, James Woods and he's always ready at the edges of the film to leap in like a shark and make an impression.

Larry Hagman is also memorable, successfully exporting his J.R. Ewing to the big screen. I think in the right hands, a Dallas movie would actually have worked as late at the 90s. Bob Hoskins make for a rather strange but effective J.

Edgar Hoover. Surprises are in store for Star Wars fans when the John Williams' score produces short snippets of the prequel trilogy some years ahead of time. Stone employs a variety of visual tricks to keep what is essentially a movie of talking heads interesting to look at.

Changes in film stock, montages, and the solid score from Williams moves things along quite well, but ultimately it is Hopkins as Nixon that really makes the movie. The sense of tragedy around the character generates an atmosphere that is tense to the final frame.