Review of The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004) by Walter M — 16 Jan 2005

[font=Century Gothic]My idea of a great performance is an actor who becomes totally unconcscious of an audience watching him and presents whatever ugly details of his character's personality life onscreen with ease.[/font].

[font=Century Gothic][color=darkred]"The Woodsman" is a movie about a child molester(played by Kevin Bacon, who is excellent) released from jail after twelve years, seeking to start a new life in Philadelphia. The central dilemma in the movie is posed the by the lead character when he asks: "When will I be alright?" The movie to its credit does not seek to give any easy answers to this question or seeks to cure the character. The most interesting thing about Bacon's character is revealed in a moment when he is talking with a 12 year old girl - it is the only point in the film when he is relaxed and at ease.[/color][/font].

[font=Century Gothic][color=sienna]While at the other end of the commonwealth in 1974 in "The Assassination of Richard of Nixon", Sean Penn plays Sam Bicke, a failed salesman who is in the middle of a new job as an office furniture salesman and in the middle of a disintegrating marriage.(Throughout the film, Bicke is in a constant state of denial and is constantly seeking to be reconciled in his marriage. But in one scene, he is flirting with an attractive customer and refers to his 'ex-wife'.) Sean Penn is extremely good but there is very little relief from this unpleasant character and at times, the movie feels like it is going to fall into a very prolonged Saturday Night Live sketch.(I couldn't think of anything worse to say.) What's interesting is to compare Bicke's breakdown to the same one that Nixon was supposedly undergoing in the White House at the same time. The movie's whole point seems to be success can only be gained when working with others.[/color][/font].