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Much like the Joel Schumacher film of 1993 starring Michael Douglas, this film is about an ordinary man with an ordinary job who is driven to insanity by the injustice and unfairness of his world. While both films teach us that no matter how solid it seems, everything will crumble under enough pressure there is no humor to TAORN. In fact it's the most depressing film like...ever.

I don't know what made me go see TAORN. I'd heard nothing of it but I like Sean Penn and Naomi Watts (they were in the brilliant 21 Grams together) and everything else at the cinema I had either seen or looked crap (Man of the House, Miss Congenatailiality 2) so I chose this, hoping it to be a dark horse. It was well made and acted but it's really, really heavy and I would not recommend it to anyone bored with their jobs or lives in general.

Sean Penn plays the true story of Sam Bicke, a furniture salesman who is estranged from his family, his wife, his children, his colleagues...basically everything. He sees the fatcats around him growing richer and richer while he rots away in his inescapable reality of nothingness. He blames Dick Nixon for his woes, the fattest of all fatcats, the man at the top of the food chain. He believes that if he kills Nixon he might be able to make the slightest of changes to the racist, lying world.

Of course he failed, but watching Sam Bicke crash and burn is a very painful thing to do. What makes it more distressing is that there is never a reason given as to why everyone deserted him. It gave the impression that anyone can be so callous and uncaring and that anyone can be driven to such insanity and desperate measures.

Not a film to see with your girlfriend that's for damn sure but certainly an impressive, if tough to watch, piece of work.

THE ASSASSINATION OF RICHARD NIXON (2004) *** Sean Penn, Naomi Watts, Jack Thompson, Don Cheadle, Michael Wincott. Penn continues to be our greatest living American actor in this volatile, highly implosive achievement as a frustrated businessman circa 1974 who vents all his shortcomings into a half-baked attempt to kill President Nixon in the hope his actions actually add some color to his miserable life and impose him as a significant human being. Novice filmmaker Niels Mueller (who collaborated on the screenplay with Kevin Kennedy) constructs a significant portrait of angst, anomie and alienation yet the outcome proves to be a touch anti-climactic spoiling the rage that has been festering throughout like an undercurrent of dread. Never-the-less Penn is ably supported particularly veteran character actor Thompson as his passive/aggressive prick boss.

Refusing to lie to his customers was the thing that saw Samuel Bickle leave his job with his brother's tyre sales business and looks like it will be again in his new job as an office furniture salesman. Failing in his career, Sam has also failed in marriage, with an estranged wife who is seeing another man and children who barely notice whether he is around or not. Trying to do the honest thing and put in the hard work needed to make a success of himself is not easy as he still requires loans to do that. As he slowly crumbles under the pressure of seeing the life he believed he should have eluding him, he watches Nixon survive and sell himself to the nation for a second term. Bit by bit his anger finds a focus and his path is clear.

Although I know nothing of the "true story" back in the seventies, I am in no doubt that this film is very relevant today. Ignore the fact that Nixon was an unpopular President that took America into a war that few wanted (hmmm), this is relevant because many "little" people feel like Sam to some degree; even those not in his shoes will be able to feel for him and recognise why he feels the way he does. The narrative is interesting but the really this is a character study of Sam – although I don't know if it is the real man of the true story but the character study is of a man sold down the river by the dreams he has been promised and the lifestyle he has been sold. In this way the film succeeds because the writing is great; this is a man who is in a lot of pain but not totally pathetic or needy – just a man who wants the simple promise of a family, a job and a slice of the good life. It is telling that he has the standard three children and dog, but his white picket fence around his old home is faded and peeling. If it sounds a simple story then that's because it is, but it is compelling, depressing, recognisable and very relevant to a world where large numbers of people feel cut off from the ruling classes and entirely left out of the dream that we are told to aim for by adverts, the media and our upbringing.

The writing is great but the acting still needs to be good to make it work; luckily it is impressive in almost all areas. Yet again Penn gives a great performance but, unlike Mystic River, it is a performance of restraint and quiet moments that gripped me by how well observed it was. Watts is only in a small role comparatively but she works well as the contrast of Sam – she has been failed as well but she accepts it and just does it in the way most of us do. Cheadle is good as always and Thompson is perfectly cast as the slick embodiment of what it takes to get on – lies and spin! With this heavy support cast, it speaks volumes that Penn still dominates the film and his performance is worthy of awards when the season comes but I suspect that the subject matter and the timing of the film will not make that too easy.

Overall this is a strong film with a good narrative but it works best as a character study. Sam is disenfranchised, feeling betrayed and just trying to make good with the qualities that he has been taught will be enough to bring him a slice of the dream. It is compelling, relevant and sadly, depressingly convincing as a life that many of us will at least be able to recognise if not totally empathise with.

Richard Nixon (or as I like to call him, President Pinocchio) brought American politics to an unprecedented low (unfortunately, Tricky Dick was not the last one to do that). His escalation of the Vietnam War, his "dirty tricks" campaign to spy on protesters, his assassinations of Black Panthers and American Indian Movement activists, his overthrow of Chile's government, and Watergate, pretty much destroyed the idealistic view of "good government".

So, it's not surprising that someone would want to assassinate him. In "The Assassination of Richard Nixon", Sean Penn plays Sam Bicke, a disgruntled salesman who is going through a divorce and losing his job. After seeing Nixon's policies play out, Sam takes it upon himself to assassinate the president by crashing a plane into the White House. Maybe that conjures up memories of September 11, 2001, but Penn gives a gritty performance to the point where you can't help but completely agree with Sam's actions.

I was lucky enough to find myself at a small screening of this picture and having no expectations, was 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 and LA, but as Penn's Sam Bicke character might say "The system is unfair and everyone has a right to see this movie" so email ThinkFilm and tell them you want it in your city, too. Kudos to ThinkFIlm for getting behind this movie, they have another festival favorite of mine, "Kontroll" coming out in the spring.

I take my hat off to these filmmakers for their outstanding work.

I caught this film at AFI primarily due to my interest in Sean Penn and indeed his performance is spectacular. But Mr. Penn's performance alone is not what makes this a truly great film. The intelligent writing, well-timed and rich score, and supportive performances by Naomi Watts, Jack Thompson and Don Cheadle blend perfectly in this marvelously crafted feature transporting the viewer into the lives and era of the exquisitely human characters who are so elegantly portrayed. Sean Penn's performance leans heavily on the clever and complex writing which offers him the opportunity to display an impressive range of pathos. The writers have managed to depict the very human and sympathetic side of a character that would typically be cast as the villain. I think this is a hugely important film for that reason and on many other levels as well. The writers are able to very subtly include sociopolitical commentary without being "in your face" or at all judgmental as the political arena is viewed through the lead character's eyes yet not really distorted due to the inclusion of archival footage. The unexpected doses of humor matched perfectly with the poignancy of the lead character's plight. This film is so moving, scenes and dialogue echo in the corners of the mind for days after the first viewing. I'll definitely be seeing Assassination again.

Nail-biting and psychological dramatic thriller that will leave you emotionally and and physically drained due to Sean Penn's breathtaking acting. A furniture salesman called Samuel J. Bicke (Sean Penn) is fired by his boss, Jack Jones (Jack Thompson). Later on, he attempts to get his brother's old tire business resurrected with a black partner (Don Cheadle) but is rejected by the banks. When he is officially served with divorce denounce by his wife (Naomi Watts), everything goes wrong. The Man takes this as a shock and begins a relentless vengeance to get even with the unfortunate victims. Samuel J. Bicke is a man for whom life has completely lost its meaning due to fateful circumstances. He has a breakdown and becomes completely mentally insane and with an incredible, adrenaline-fueled thirst for revenge, he crosses limits and confronts all those who hinder his path. He can happen to anyone !. The mad story of a true man !. A merciless purport begins with disastrous consequences !. Power is a state of mind.

Downbeat and intriguing drama/thriller about an unsettling and nasty sociopath, when his world comes apart results in unpredictable consequences. ¨The assassination of Richard Nixon¨ comes within hailing distance of such emblematic works of American disillusion as Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" and Saul Bellow's "Seize the Day." It is set in 1974 and centers on a businessman who decides to take extreme measures to achieve his American dream. Apparently the real character of Samuel Byck also inspired the role of Travis Bickle, played by Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese''s Taxi Driver (1976). Sean Penn and Naomi Watts star in this high-voltage, disturbing drama with the spirit of a classic B-movie which also shows the lifestyle of the seventies, the political conditions and the tumultuous era of Richard Nixon. Professionally directed by Niels Mueller, it tells of a thorny character studio when a man has completely lost his mind and, in the midst of a mental breakdown, the disturbed office furniture salesman concoctes a plot to kill then-President Nixon. There's a really violent and terrifying final and in which a lot of people become the target of a insatiable rage. Alongside the always great Sean Penn appears a good cast of notable actors, such as: Naomi Watts, Don Cheadle, Jack Thompson, Brad William Henke, Nick Searcy, Michael Wincott, Mykelti Williamson, April Grace, among others.

The film is acceptable and decent enough, but it doesn't add anything new to what we've seen other times about or sadists who carry out cruel and violent vendettas or ordinary men frustrated with various pèrsonal flaws see in society the main guilty, then begin psychotically and violently lash out against them. That's why ¨The assassination of Richard Nixon¨ borrows bits and pieces from others films . But what truly stands out is the extremely strong acting by Sean Penn, who efficiently plays the worst of the psychic characters. And being debut theatrical feature film directed by Niels Mueller. The Assassination of Richard Nixon , which Niels adequately co-wrote and directed, had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, its North American premiere at The Toronto International Film Festival, and was sought by film festivals and distributors around the world. Niels was also the final production draft writer of studio box office hits ¨13 going on 30¨ (Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo) and ¨Letters to Juliet¨ (Vanessa Redgrave, Amanda Seyfried) and is an accomplished show-creator, writer and producer of network television, including the CBS series, ¨The Defenders¨, (Jim Belushi, Jerry O'Connell). Niels also received the German Federal Film Fund's highest grant award for his original screenplay, ¨A Letter For Matschek¨. Rating: 6/10. The film is especially recommended for hardcore fans of Sean Penn, who despite overacting at times, gives a truly terrifying, threatening and chilling performance.

Just saw THE ASSASSINATION OF RICHARD NIXON last night at an AFI screening. The film is absolutely stunning.

Niels Mueller has such a sure and masterful hand in directing that belies the fact that this is his theatrical directorial debut. He directs with a flair that is never gimmicky and the film is pitch perfect without a single false note (helped in part by the tight script by Mueller and Kevin Kennedy and the elegant editing). The scenes hum with a slowburn intensity and gradually build up a momentum that lunges to the film's explosive final act.

This young director is one to watch.

Sean Penn gave a powerful and nuanced performance that explores the whole range of his acting personas. This IS the towering performance of his career. Excellent supporting work from Naomi Watts, Don Cheadle, Jack Thompson and a scene-stealing Michael Wincott.

Sean Penn's scarifying, coiled-spring performance is the predominant force in first-time filmmaker Niels Mueller's fictionalized story of would-be assassin Samuel Byck, who became obsessed with killing then-President Nixon in 1974. Those who have seen Stephen Sondheim's musical "Assassins" will recognize Byck as one of its infamous characters. His name has been changed to "Bicke" in the chilling 2004 film version, but the basic skeleton of the true story remains. After losing his sales job, his wife and a government loan to start his own business, he became so paranoid that he decided to hijack an airliner and have it crash into the White House. The parallels to 9/11, especially the events recreated in Paul Greengrass' viscerally powerful "United 93", are obvious, but the bulk of this relentlessly downbeat film is about Bicke's descent into madness, one that Penn evokes with supple dexterity. In a performance that immediately recalls Robert DeNiro's (perhaps) coincidentally named Travis Bickle in Martin Scorsese's 1976 classic, "Taxi Driver", Penn proves again to be among the most effectively risk-taking of actors.

The screenplay itself, co-written by Mueller and Kevin Kennedy, reflects a more predictable storyline, most of which is a flashback. Showing apparent signs of a bipolar disorder, Bicke struggles with a life full of compromises and deludes himself into thinking he is an honorable man. His grand ideas of a thriving business and a loving marriage are at odds with reality, but instead of facing up to the challenges, he slides quickly from meekly pathetic to utterly pathological. He even thinks composer Leonard Bernstein is somehow his muse and writes him of his grand plans. The film's last ten minutes are eye-flinchingly realistic, but they provide the necessary denouement to a tragically misguided footnote in U.S. history. Beyond Penn, there is a trio of strong players used minimally in the film - Don Cheadle as Bickle's only friend and would-be partner Bonny and submerging their Aussie accents convincingly, a brunette Naomi Watts as Bickle's estranged waitress wife Marie and Jack Thompson appropriately greasy as his deceptively avuncular boss. The 2005 DVD provides a solid set of extras - an extremely informative commentary track from Mueller, a brief behind-the-scenes short, and several deleted scenes.

Penn's Bicke is a vulnerable, halting man who never, somehow, connects with the rest of the world. Success eludes him. The fat lunkheads he works for far surpass him in income and mastery of all circumstances. Bicke lives a raging interior existence. He is not a glib man. When he finally speaks out, it percolates up unfiltered, an unsorted jumble. (He blows his loan attempt simply by talking for too long.) He can't win for losing. So is the failure his or The System's? He can't answer this, but arrives at the interpretation that is for him inevitable: The Man™ is keeping him down, getting over on him by lying and cheating and stealing. In short, it is because he is the moral better of those held out as shining representatives of The System™ that he can't beat them at their own evil game. Physical violence, he decides, is the only way to avenge the emotional violence that's been heaped on him.

The direction is masterful. The oppressive, Kafkaesque scene between the Bicke brothers (after Sam is caught stealing from his older brother), alone, shows up the work of many Hollywood veterans with the effectiveness of its stark simplicity and emotional directness. This film not only throws most multiplex junk films into the trash can with insolent ease, but reminds you of the depth to which American Film can still aspire– successfully, on occasion.

Greetings again from the darkness. All it takes is Sean Penn's name on the marquee as sufficient reason for me to see a film. This time that that is combined with a story that has fascinated me for years. Similar at times to "Falling Down" and "Taxi Driver", this inspired-by-a-true-story, captures the desperation one might feel when dwelling on the flaws of our system and the daily sacrifices we must make just to get by. Watching Don Cheadle repeat to Penn's character (Sam Bicke) that "It's a job" and seeing Bicke's total lack of comprehension is very powerful stuff. Naomi Watts is once again teamed with Penn, this time as his estranged wife who obviously has reached her limits with Sam's character flaws.

First time director Niels Muller (who co-wrote the underrated "Tadpole") provides many powerful scenes that build the frustration in Bicke's life. Jack Thompson is superb as the slick furniture salesman-boss who tries to forge a path in sales for Bicke through Dale Carnegie and Norman Vincent Peale books. Watching Bicke try to connect with the Black Panthers is disturbing, although his "zebra" idea is funny and brilliant. Seeing Bicke hug Cheadle's son once for each of his own kids is poignant, yet touching. Mostly watching the greatest living actor is an honor and privilege that should not be missed.

Although I am not sure how Niels Muller got this gig, the wonderful story, terrific cast, and executive producers Leonardo DiCaprio and Alexander Payne deliver a story that is compelling and lives up to its tag line of "A mad story of a true man".

"The Assassination of Richard Nixon" tells the alleged "mad story of a true man" who attempted to hijack an airplane and crash it into the White House to kill the United States president. From reading the plot description - especially post-9/11 - it sounds like the main character here would be a detestable one, but it is a testament to the skills of Sean Penn that he manages to make the character empathetic and realistic. It's also a testament to the strength of the filmmakers that they don't resort to cheap sentimentality to "force" the audience into sympathizing with Bicke.

Sam Bicke (Penn) is a 44-year-old furniture salesman living a life as a "slave" to the corporate world. He wants to open his own business, but doesn't get a loan because his partner is black. His wife (Naomi Watts) is in the process of divorcing him and he is slowly losing contact with his three children. He detests his boss, he has no money, and he wants to be his own man. "Slavery never ended," he claims. "They just gave it a new name: employee." Bicke narrates his story in a series of letters to composer Leonard Bernstein, referring to him as "Mr. Bernstein" and "Maestro." Bernstein's own recordings of Beethoven's 4th and 5th piano concertos (aka "Emperor") make up the soundtrack of the film, which is eerie, tranquil and unsettling depending upon the scenes it underscores - it works really well.

This is ultimately a film in the tradition of "Taxi Driver" and "The King of Comedy" that is an insight into the mind of an everyman who succumbs to the pressure of every day life and finally loses his mind. The movie manages to stand on its own as a picture without purposely drawing parallels to these other films, and the fact that Penn's character is named Bicke isn't a reference to Taxi Driver - after all, this is based on a true story. The real man's name was spelled "Byke," and even if some creative liberties were taken here, it's a solid film that is well-made and an effective portrayal of a man on the brink of madness.

I was lucky enough to see this film at the AFI Fest screening in Los Angeles this week. They say it will be released at the end of the year, which is not soon enough as far as I'm concerned.

Others here have commented on the brilliant performances of the stellar cast, and I must concur. There isn't a weak link in the group. Particular standouts are Jack Thompson and Michael Wincott. These two actors play character Sam Byck's (Sean Penn) boss and brother, respectively, and they are the authority figures in Sam's life whose influences are palpable in the film even when they are not on-screen. Naomi Watts and Don Cheadle provide superlative performances that we have begun to expect from them as our due. Certainly one could say the same about Sean Penn. He is probably one of the highest praised and consistently well-reviewed actors of his generation, and his performance in this film illustrates why. Penn's elegiac performance is delicately nuanced and precisely wrought. For me, this is unarguably his finest performance to date. I hope that Academy voters won't hold it against him that he won last year because if ever a performance deserves an Oscar, this is it!

Director/Co-writer Niels Mueller has crafted a stunning work that is clearly heart-felt. This is a beautifully rendered character study. The level of achievement in directing, writing, cinematography, and editing are beyond impressive. Although this film was inspired by true events that occurred three decades ago (and the director and the production design team have captured the feel and look perfectly), the film is timeless in the themes that it explores. Considering the fact that this film was conceived and written at least five years ago (according to the director during the AFI Q&A)-before 9/11, before the Clinton Impeachment, before Bush's election and re-election, before the Iraq war-it is uncanny how relevant and topical the themes are.

If you are someone who likes inspired, thought-provoking films that are well-written, beautifully acted and masterfully directed, then I advise you to run, don't walk, to see NIXON when it comes out.

I saw this film at Cannes and thought it was fantastic. There is not a flawed moment in the entire film. The performances are amazing and any intelligent film fan will see Sean Penn's performance as one of his best if not his very best ever.

Additionally, Naomi Watts is outstanding. She disappears entirely in her role as Marie and is almost unrecognizable from anything she's ever done in the past. Jack Thompson, the great Australian actor of Breaker Morant and Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith fame is stunning. I can't believe he hasn't been used more in the United States. Not to mention the always great Don Cheadle and others...

The story itself is chilling. This is one relevant film that everyone should see. I don't want to give anything away but suffice it to say that this film discusses with great depth and insight issues that are burning in everyone's minds these days -- terrorism, 9-11, powerlessness as a voting public, etc., etc.

This film is gripping from start to finish. It is a carefully crafted character dissection that takes you inside the mind and heart of Penn's character. The film couldn't have succeeded without Penn's brilliance. The art direction and cinematography are stand out as well as the editing which keeps the film moving at a very assured pace.

This film is as good as they come. It's the kind of film they used to make and I was thrilled to see that some filmmakers and actors had the courage to tackle such complexities as are tackled here.

Roger Ebert calls "Nixon" one of the best films at this year's Cannes film festival...Le Monde in France called it a near masterpiece and in Rome's largest paper they wondered why this film instead of Fahrenheit 911 wasn;'t garnering all the attention. I agree with all of them. Amazing what the director and cast were able to pull off, simply amazing.

This film is an absolute gem and a must see for any intelligent film-goer....It will become a classic...guaranteed.

It's 1972. Sam Bicke (Sean Penn) is a disturbed man who feels disconnected from the world. He has been kicked out of his home by his wife Marie Andersen Bicke (Naomi Watts). His friend Bonny Simmons (Don Cheadleis) works at a garage. He's bad at his job as a furniture salesman. As his world spirals out of control, he fixates on a plan to hijack a plane, and kill President Richard Nixon.

Sure it's a big time performance by Sean Penn as the incompetent delusional loser. But it's just unrelenting how ridiculously pathetic Sam Bicke becomes. It grinds you down as he loses all connection to reality. The pace is a slow meditative walk through his crumbling world. It just doesn't have the energy of Sean Penn's more iconic loser role Travis Bickle in 'Taxi Driver'.

I give The Assassination of Richard Nixon five out of five stars. It was one of the big buzz films in Toronto and I had to work every possible angle to get a ticket to the sold out screening when it made its premiere. The theater in Toronto was over a thousand seats and was packed. The audience was completely into this one -- there was plenty of earned laughter as this film has a great deal of humor before it gives way to relentless, heart-wrenching drama.

It's the story of a man who tried to kill President Nixon in 1974 and is a moving, emotional, entertaining film. Sean Penn is Sean Penn -- just the best that there is and this is as great as anything he has ever done.

I heard while I was in Toronto that the film was still being worked on after it first screened in Cannes so this was the first screening of the finished film (so I be careful when reading reviews that you are reading a review of the finished film). It is amazing, amazing, amazing and I hope it gets out to as big an audience as possible. Thank goodness filmmakers are making films that matter. 5 stars out of 5!!!!

I have respect for SEAN PENN as an actor, but have often been offended by his liberal politics, his rants about a corrupt president and his anti-war stance and bias toward many things in general. But I have to admit that in THE ASSASSINATION OF RICHARD NIXON he gives an exceptionally fine performance as a man slowly descending into madness because of all the everyday frustrations of life.

The film is especially good at detailing the things that keep building up to the man's final act, in which he destroys himself along with some innocent lives. Even the scenes showing him at his mailbox, hungrily waiting for the official word that his "invention" has been accepted--something everyone can relate to who has ever waited impatiently for a certain piece of news to arrive. His gradual descent into madness is done in a way that is gripping without being melodramatic.

NAOMI WATTS is almost unrecognizable as the same woman who played opposite King Kong in the latest reincarnation of that famous film. She's the wife who can't seem to convince her husband that their life together is over. With both a crumbling marriage and troubles on the job sending him over the edge, the story moves at a steady pace toward the inevitable climax.

All concerned deserve praise for noteworthy performances. JACK THOMPSON is excellent as the boss who seems to have Penn's best interests at heart when he recommends reading "How To Win Friends and Influence People", but the socially inept character that Penn plays never has more than a timid grasp of what his boss expects him to be.

Penn moves away from the abrasive characters he played so well in other films to that of a man who stammers and is humbled by authority figures who seem to rule his world in an unfair way. He is completely convincing as the increasingly unstable salesman who funnels his daily frustrations into preparations for a plot to kill Richard Nixon.

Interesting film with a strong central performance by Penn that ranks with his best work.