I am a grain of sand
so says Sam Bicke (Sean Penn) near the beginning of The Assassination of Richard Nixon a strong feature debut from Niels Mueller.
Loosely based on actual events, the film is the story of Bicke, a perennial loser who just can't seem to get anything right: he can't hold his salesman's job because he refuses to be dishonest to make a deal; his marriage has fallen apart, and his children largely ignore him; he gets turned down for a loan to start his own business. Bicke is even rejected by the Black Panthers, who find his idea of a black-and-white Zebras organization understandably ludicrous.
Bicke's frustration at the poor hand that he has been dealt and those around him is made all the worse by the fact that no one wants to listen to him or help him out.
Refusing to lie or take advantage of others to get ahead, Bicke decides that the only way to change things is through violence, which manifests itself in the ill-fated attempt mentioned in the title.
Assassination succeeds as both a character study in the vein of the superior Taxi Driver (Travis Bickle is a spiritual cousin to Bicke) as well as a scathing indictment of the American dream. Mueller helms the film with confidence and skill. The script, written by Mueller and Kevin Kennedy, is very direct (there's little subtlety in lines like I am a grain of sand) but somehow never comes across as heavy-handed.
The true highlight of Assassination however, is Penn's performance. Supported by fine turns from Naomi Watts (as Bicke's fed-up ex-wife) and Don Cheadle (as Bicke's lone friend), Penn crafts Bicke into a truly sad and frustrated man -one who easily captures the audience's attention and sympathy.
Bicke's self-destruction is inevitable and may at times be hard to watch, but Mueller and Penn make Assassination a film that should not be missed.
The Assassination of Richard Nixon is showing at 7:30 tonight as part of The Athena's Art Series.
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Ben Saylor
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Sean Penn appears as Sam Bicke in The Assassination of Richard Nixon. The film finished its run as a part of the The Athena's art series Tuesday.
