THE ASSASSINATION OF RICHARD NIXON: DEATH OF A SALESMAN

THE ASSASSINATION OF RICHARD NIXON is the type of "based on a true story" that I like to watch. Before this movie, I had no idea that a crazy office furniture salesman tried to kill Nixon. It is easier to view a "true story" when I don't know the facts or the ending. Yes, I know Nixon was not assassinated...But what happened to the crazy office furniture salesman? For example, I've never seen APOLLO 13. Everyone knows the space cadets make it back to Earth with the help of the fine pocket protector trekkie officials in Houston. We love happy endings, but do all "based on a true story" endings have to be happy?

Sean Penn is a great actor. When Penn isn't preaching on a soapbox or trying to save poor people from themselves by using a leaky boat...He can supply a believable character in any genre of film. In ARN, Penn plays a loser named Sam Bicke. In most film's, losers are played as "lovable losers" on screen. Sam Bicke is a loser, but not lovable. Bicke's social skills are minimal, he's rude, and simply not very bright. One of the film's highlights is when Bicke tries to convince a Black Panther leader to allow whites to join their club. Bicke explains that if the Black Panthers change their name to "The Zebras" whites will join the club and membership will double. The Black Panther leader looks at him similar to how conservatives look at todays far left...With a look of "what color is the sky in your world?!"

In the beginning of the film Bicke is being groomed as the next great office furniture salesman...Bicke is destined to fail. But there is always good news. When a salesman hits rock bottom they can always sell hotel rooms for a living (kidding). Bicke's wife, played by Naomi Watts, can't stand him. We learn that they have been legally separated for a year. If the story is true...It's amazing she married him in the first place. Bicke's best friend is Bonnie, played by Don Cheadle. Bonnie realizes that his friend Bicke is a fool but allows him to hang out at his car repair shop as a form of charity. Sam Bicke starts the movie as a loser and then switches to being pathetic.

Eventually Bicke's wife files for divorce, he quits his job (right before he gets fired), and gets his best friend Bonnie arrested. All of this is the fault of Richard Nixon. In movies, as in life, it is always easy to blame people in authority for your problems and short-comings. In today's world Bicke would be a flaming left wing wacko...Completely unstable, unrealistic and quick to blame the establishment for his and the world's problems. The solution to Bicke's problems is much easier than killing the President. Bicke and people like him need to look in a mirror and then run into oncoming traffic...Problem solved.

The movie ends with Bicke actually finding the nerve to go through with his plan to assassinate Nixon. The plan involves the hi-jacking of an airplane and flying it into the White House. Obviously the plan fails. With Bicke's luck...Even if his plan succeeded and he actually hi-jacked the plan and made it crash into the White House...Nixon probably wouldn't have been home. When people like Bicke have success, its usually achieved by accident.

THE ASSASSINATION OF RICHARD NIXON is a good movie. On the "Jamie" scale it receives an "8" and makes the Honorable Mention List for the best films of 2004. Sean Penn does a superb job playing a crazy person..Although he has a great advantage. It is easy to play a crazy person when in reality you are already insane. Sean, I know you must live near a highway or interstate...Remember...The solution is simple.