ironhorse_iv
When we were kids, we were taught that anybody that work, hard enough, can achieve upward mobility in life with his/her ability. We called this trusted belief, the American Dream. In the modern age, the whole idea of the American Dream is slowly become disillusioned, to the point, that some people, see it, nearly impossible to achieve due to issues like institutional racism, gratuitous lust, and most of all, the greed of corporatization capitalism. Anybody, wondering where, such modern pessimism, came from, would probably, look at the trouble 1970s for answers. Indeed, it was a time, where American pragmatism was at one of its lowest. Unemployment was very high, crime & violence was very rampage, and most of all, the old American values, were being soiled by dirty hands, within the government and in the job market. No wonder, why the American Dream becomes the American Nightmare for Samuel Bicke (Sean Penn), a down-on-his-luck, furniture salesman. Directed by Niels Muller & inspired by tragic, true events, the movie tells the story of an irrational man so disillusion with the American Dream, that he become a danger, not only to his friends, and family, but also to the President of the United States for who, he blames as the cause of his problems. Without spoiling the movie, too much, I kinda have to say, I hate the title of the film. The movie should had been call something else. Clearly, anybody who knows history, knows that Richard Nixon was never assassinated. Unless, it's about his career. Then, yes, I guess, that title could work. Still, the movie isn't really about President Richard Nixon. It's about, his fail assassin, becoming disillusion with the American Dream due to fact, that he cannot find success, by being an honest man. I really surprised that this movie was even made. Clearly, the studio had some questions about whether it would be a good idea to produce a film where the protagonist tries to fly a plane into a famous building just two years after 9/11, but many of the people who work with the film, persuaded them that it'd be a worse crime, not to tell this story. Despite, the movie, being very controversial, the movie was indeed well-made, both in writing and in visual storytelling. I just wish, the movie had a better framing device than the odd use of flashbacks. Still, Sean Penn was amazing as the trouble, well-meaning if slightly eccentric guy. You really could see the depth in his performance with powerful well-written scenes with both his boss, Jack Jones (Jack Thompson) & his brother, Julius (Michael Wincott). He didn't go over-the top, one bit and the supporting characters really help the film work. You see Sean Penn's character, transforms from a normal career ambitious family man into a lonely self-hating psychological killer. There was nothing cartoony about it. A great shade of grey, worth of story-telling. There is a few things, I can nitpick about the film about when it comes to historic accuracy such as the last name chance, and the fact that real Samuel Byck was quite a bit heavier than Sean Penn. When it comes to Sam's backstory being tweaked and altered, the real Sam, had four children while Sam only has two in the film. It also implied, that Sam's loan fiasco happen only a few weeks before the assassination attempt, while Byck's failure to secure a loan happened in 1972, two years beforehand. One of the biggest changes, is the fact, that the movie doesn't mention, Sam, going to a psychological ward in a last ditch, attempt to save his marriage, or the fact, that Sam went to Washington D.C, very often to protest against Richard Nixon, way before Watergate. Still, the overall storyline is much the same as the real-life events, and everything that happens at the airport in the last 15 minutes or so is entirely the same as what happened in reality. The movie ends with such a powerful anti-climax downer way that you would have to wonder, what was the point of the film? The movie clearly isn't trying hard to be an attention-grabber, but I have to say, the movie got green-lite, because the film metaphorically tells, how life is living in a post-9/11 world. While the movie is indeed set in the 1970s, a lot of viewers can see, a lot of mirror-like social tones coming off, from this movie, such as the endless wars, the deeply trouble economy, and corrupt government figures. It's both a sociological analysis of the 1970s and the 2000s. If you like this movie, check out The History Channel special, "The Plot to Kill Nixon." It's worth a watch. Overall: While, some people might not go, see this movie, due to its rough subject matter. I have to say, that the movie needs to be seem, due to its powerful message, about government, business, family and social and moral roles. It's a must-see. The film is essentially the new Taxi Driver for a new generation.
