Review of The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004) by Jeff K — 15 Feb 2007

Sean Penn is the premier actor of our time and he doesn't let us down in this disturbing film of a meek man who rails against the injustices of his times. Set during the presidential era of Richard Nixon, Penn watches helplessly as the world around him corrupts and edges out the little guy.

With a mindset of victimization, he sees himself as the only honest man left, although he's far from that. He can't keep a job, he's lost his family, steals from his successful brother, and all the while internalizes his escalating rage.

He sees the position of the employee as the continuance of slavery and wants out before the injustice kills him. He asks (begs, really) for a small business loan thinking that this is the solution to his problems.

He flails between the worlds of employee and potential business owner. Does he really hate the powerful so much? It turns out he wants to be a business owner so he doesn't have to answer to anyone, but isn't he really becoming just part of the "system" by doing that? Penn's facial features are the academy award winner of this film.

Watching the master at work, we are awed into a gripping silence throughout the film as his features display every emotion from love to insanity. Especially poignant is the scene where he is accused of ripping off his own brother.

The look of incredulity is worth the price of admission. If you've seen the movie, Falling Down, you will recognize the total feeling of impotent rage. I wonder where the academy awards for this film are? The capture of emotional acting at its finest.

Must see!