Product ReviewsThe Assassination of Richard Nixon (DVD, 2005)

Excellent Acting and story-line about true life events

Sean Penn has played many different roles before. This role was quite very the most believable role I've seen him play in years that fit his demeanor to a tea. Although Byck was born to poor Jewish parents in South Philadelphia, Byck dropped out of high school in the ninth grade in order to support his impoverished family. He enlisted in the US Army in 1954, was honorably discharged in 1956, married shortly thereafter, and had four children. In 1972, Byck began to suffer from severe bouts of depression after his wife divorced him and after experiencing many business failures. Due to his depression, he admitted himself to a psychiatric ward where he stayed for two months.

Byck began to harbor the belief that the government was conspiring to oppress the poor. In the film Sam Byck is Spelled Bicke. He becomes a lonely, ineffectual incompetent who feels wronged by his family, friends, employers and the world in general, though his problems are largely of his own making and his petulant refusal to compromise what he sees as his 'values'. Thus he loses his job rather than 'lie' to customers about prices, while at the same time he continuously deceives his friends, and steals from his friend and his brother.

Byck first came to the notice of the Secret Service in 1972, when he threatened Nixon, whom he had resented ever since the Small Business Administration had turned him down for a loan. Byck also had sent bizarre tape recordings to various other public figures including scientist Jonas Salk, U.S. Senator Abraham Ribicoff of Connecticut, and conductor Leonard Bernstein; and had tried to join the Black Panthers. He came to their office, donated from funds and wanted them to consider them changing their name to the zebraas. However, the Secret Service considered Byck to be harmless, and no action was taken at this time.

We see the struggle to maintian some kind life that he believes would catapult him to a higher standard of life if could only get this governmental small business loan to help him open up a new fangled traveling bus tire salesmen.

He continues to fail miserably in the furniture sales business, because he just does not believe in cheating the costomers out of lots of money.

I was totally blown away by what I saw. I felt a knot growing in my chest with every passing minute and it didn't let go until the credits rolled, when I had to take a couple deep breaths and heard the girl next to me doing the same.

What first struck me was the fragility Penn brings to his character. He's a man I'm used to seeing as well, a man's man, and to see him timid and frustrated, swallowing so much emotion in ever bigger chunks...it was remarkable to watch, his performance a credit to director Niels Mueller as well. Penn deserves another award, Noami Watts and Don Cheadle are also excellent, and Michael Wincott, as Penn's brother, makes his one scene memorable.

Niels and Kevin Kennedy have done a truly masterful job with the script, bringing unique voices and characters to life such as I rarely see on screen. Neils certainly doesn't look like a first timer behind the camera. Much of his framing feels emotionally claustrophobic, while a few hand-held sequences made me think I was an unwilling, unwitting voyeur.

All in all this is a delicately crafted yet weighty and powerful film. I believe it gets released soon in New York & LA, but as Penn's Sam Bicke character might say "The system is unfair and everyone has a right to see this movie."Read full review...

Very apt title.

A diturbing film.

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Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: attexas210

Ouch!

I bought this movie for a friend who loves films about sadness, pain, and darkness. Sean Penn's character in this film is the epitome of all of that.

This movie starts off painful and then becomes more painful. And then after that, it's gets even more painful. Sean Penn is brilliant. He had me embarrassed for him so many times I lost count. If you're looking for something joyful, you've found the wrong film.Read full review...

The Assassination of Richard Nixon

Sam Bicke wanted everyone to remember how he changed the world by proving that one small grain of sand can rise up against the machinations of the world. Instead he is but a footnote in history, relegated to trivia questions nobody knows the answer to and this film, The Assassination of Richard Nixon.Read full review...

bueno

bueno

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: murphyalex11