Nixon (1995)

A more personal, wiley and stylistic edition of JFK

As a filmmaker I appreciate Oliver Stone, his provactive, political, conspiratorial, curious, enigmatic, ominous visions of Americana are the stuff of high entertainment. Right or wrong, his works are wonderful cinema, it doesn't matter if his version is slanted to the left, it is a distinct vision and he is skilled at executing it.
Be that as it may Nixon is no JFK. Though both are named for presidents of the same era, one is about a murder and it's associate conspiracies-presented in staggering detail, while the other is a psychological Greek-styled high drama of a hugely important personality, flawed and potent, crumbling and explosive.
Anthony Hopkins disappears into the role, and as these things usually do, a great actor and a great part/material make the best of art. Hopkins makes Nixon the uncomfortable, paranoid, awkward, occasionally warm, humorless titan I wonder that he was. Again, it doesn't matter if he is right. Such a secretive administration and time has to be interpreted when records are classified...sounds familiar doesn't it? Joan Allen is fantastic in a difficult, angry role and is the only source for bringing a sense of fraudulance, pity and heart to a man consumed by control and power, order and hubris. The supporting cast is pretty amazing too, Paul Sorvino's Henry Kissinger and E.G. Marshall's John Mitchell come to mind.
The extras on this extended edition are good. A doc called Beyond Nixon and a very good interview with Stone by Charlie Rose. September 27, 2008

Hopkins as Nixon

Should you not appreciate the representation of what might be your favorite President, you should be impressed with the performance of the wonderful Anthony Hopkins! Bravo. September 24, 2008

I am not a crook

Nixon was denounced by Nixon's daughters and the Disney family as an unfair portrayal of the only United States President ever to resign from office, but after watching the three plus hour epic, you are left feeling somewhat sympathetic to the man, and you have to give Nixon credit for his many accomplishments. Oliver Stone dedicated this film, and also Wall Street, to his father, Louis, a stock trader. Perhaps Oliver's father admired Nixon, so Stone wanted to give him his due. Oliver Stone always does seem to have his own not-so-hidden agenda, but if you take him with a grain of salt, you are left with a dramatic and compelling historical drama, a tragedy of epic proportions.
Anthony Hopkins gives a great performance as President Richard Milhous Nixon, capturing the essence of Nixon, his mannerisms and way of speaking, and he also manages to convey the conflicted emotions that tore him asunder. It was while watching Hopkins' conflicted character in The Remains of the Day that Stone decided to cast him as Nixon. While Hopkins doesn't even look like Nixon, nevertheless, he becomes him. The stellar cast boasts many familiar faces from other movies and television, but no matter how familiar they may be, they all manage a strange alchemy and become their characters. Oliver Stone not only manages to pull great performances from everyone, he also manages to put it all together, archival footage, special effects, flash backs, symbolism, in such a way that you are pulled into the narrative and time melts like the watches in a painting by Salvador Dali. Nixon is the cinematic version of a page turner.

Though it was a very long movie, there was still a lot of great footage that had to be left out. There is a great sequence that was included as bonus material where Nixon goes to meet with the Richard Helms (Sam Waterston), the head of the CIA. It is an excellent sequence, at one point Helms' eyes are totally black, with a special effect that would seem out of place in an historical picture, but Stone gets away with it because he is speaking in the language of images and dream symbolism. In spite of the flowers and poetry, Helms is only darkness reaching for more darkness.

===============================
Richard M. Nixon: Do ever think of death, Dick?
Richard Helms: Flowers are a continual reminder of our mortality. Do you appreciate flowers?
Richard M. Nixon: No, no they make me sick, and they smell like death. I had two brothers die young... Well let me tell you. There are worse things than death.
Richard Helms: Yes?
[special effects have turned his eyes completely black]
Richard M. Nixon: There's such a thing as evil.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

By the way, the poem Helms recites is The Second Coming by William Butler Yeats, and Anthony Hopkins actually is related to Yeats: "What rough beast, its hour come round at last, slouches towards Bethleham to be born?"


Nixon (1995) Directed by Oliver Stone

Natural Born Killers (1994)
JFK - Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition) (1991)
The Doors (1991)
Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
Wall Street (1987)
Platoon (1986)

Anthony Hopkins ... Richard M. Nixon
---------------------
Richard M. Nixon: Only when you've been in the deepest valley, can you ever know how magnificent it is on top of the highest mountain.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Bobby (2006) .... John Casey
The World's Fastest Indian (2005) .... Burt Munro
Amistad (1997) .... John Quincy Adams
Surviving Picasso (1996) .... Pablo Picasso
The Remains of the Day (1993) .... James Stevens
The Silence of the Lambs (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) (1991) .... Dr. Hannibal Lecter

Joan Allen ... Pat Nixon
======================
Pat Nixon: When do the rest of us stop PAYING OFF YOUR DEBTS?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Notebook (2004) .... Anne Hamilton
The Contender (2000) .... Laine Hanson
The Ice Storm (1997) .... Elena Hood
The Crucible (1996) .... Elizabeth Proctor
Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988) .... Vera Tucker
Compromising Positions (1985) .... Mary Alice Mahoney

Powers Boothe ... Alexander Haig
======================
Alexander Haig: I'm in control here.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sin City (2005) .... Senator Roark
U Turn (1997) .... Sheriff Virgil Potter
Mutant Species (1995) .... Frost
Blue Sky (1994) .... Col. Vincent 'Vince' Johnson
Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (1980) (TV) .... Rev. Jim Jones
Cruising (1980) .... Hankie salesman

Ed Harris ... E. Howard Hunt
========================
E. Howard Hunt: John, sooner or later, sooner, I think, you're gonna learn a lesson that's been learned by everyone who's ever gotten close to Richard Nixon. That he's the darkness reaching out for the darkness. And eventually, it's either you or him. Your grave's already been dug, John.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Hours (2002) .... Richard Brown
Pollock (2000) .... Jackson Pollock
The Truman Show (1998) .... Christof
Apollo 13 (1995) .... Gene Kranz
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) .... Dave Moss
The Right Stuff (1983) .... John Glenn

Bob Hoskins ... J. Edgar Hoover
===========================
J. Edgar Hoover: There's already been one radical in the White House. I don't believe it could survive another.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Mrs Henderson Presents (2005) .... Vivian Van Damm
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) .... Eddie Valiant
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1987) .... James Madden
Mona Lisa (1986) .... George
Brazil (1985) .... Spoor
The Cotton Club (1984) .... Owney Madden

E.G. Marshall ... John Mitchell
Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977) .... Sen. Joseph Paine
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) .... Colonel Rufus S. Bratton
"The Defenders" .... Lawrence Preston (132 episodes, 1961-1965)
Town Without Pity (1961) .... Col. Jerome Pakenham
12 Angry Men (1957) .... Juror #4
The Left Hand of God (1955) .... Dr. David Sigman

David Paymer ... Ron Ziegler
Ocean's Thirteen (2007) .... The V.U.P.
Quiz Show (1994) .... Dan Enright
Mr. Saturday Night (1992) .... Stan
City Slickers (1991) .... Ira Shalowitz
No Way Out (1987) .... Technician David
Howard the Duck (1986) .... Larry, Scientist

David Hyde Pierce ... John Dean
==============================
John Dean: There's a cancer in the presidency and it's growing.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Frasier" .... Dr. Niles Crane (263 episodes, 1993-2004)
Full Frontal (2002) .... Carl
Addams Family Values (1993) .... Delivery Room Doctor
The Fisher King (1991) (as David Pierce) .... Lou Rosen
Little Man Tate (1991) (as David Pierce) .... Garth
Bright Lights, Big City (1988) .... Bartender at Fashion Show

Paul Sorvino ... Henry Kissinger
=============================
Henry Kissinger: Can you imagine what this man would be like had anyone ever loved him?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Bulworth (1998) .... Graham Crockett
Romeo + Juliet (1996) .... Fulgencio Capulet
Goodfellas (1990) .... Paul Cicero
Dick Tracy (1990) .... Lips Manlis
Reds (1981) .... Louis Fraina
Cruising (1980) .... Capt. Edelson

Mary Steenburgen ... Hannah Nixon
What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) .... Betty Carver
Romantic Comedy (1983) .... Phoebe Craddock
A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy (1982) .... Adrian
Melvin and Howard (1980) .... Lynda Dummar
Time After Time (1979) .... Amy Robbins
Goin' South (1978) .... Julia Tate/Moon

J.T. Walsh ... John Ehrlichman
===============================
John Ehrlichman: We created Frankenstein with these **** Cubans.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Pleasantville (1998) .... Big Bob
Breakdown (1997/I) .... Warren 'Red' Barr
Sling Blade (1996) .... Charles Bushman
Executive Decision (1996) .... Senator Mavros
Needful Things (1993) .... Danforth Keeton III
The Grifters (1990) .... Cole

James Woods ... H.R. Haldeman
====================
H. R. Haldeman: Eight words back in '72. 'I covered up. I was wrong. I'm sorry'. The American public would have forgiven him. But we never opened our mouths, John. We failed him.
John Ehrlichman: Dick Nixon apologize? That will be the day. Most of his armor would fall off.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dirty Pictures (2000) (TV) .... Dennis Barrie
The Virgin Suicides (1999) .... Mr. Lisbon
Casino (1995) .... Lester Diamond
The Boost (1988) .... Lenny Brown
Salvador (1986) .... Richard Boyle
The Onion Field (1979) .... Gregory Ulas Powell

Annabeth Gish ... Julie Nixon Eisenhower
====================================
Julie Nixon: [hesitantly] Did you, Daddy? Did you cover it up?
Richard M. Nixon: Do you think I would do something like that, honey?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Celestine Prophecy (2006) ....Julia
Gillery's Little Secret (2006) .... Gillery
Knots (2004) .... Greta Siegel
SLC Punk! (1998) .... Trish
Beautiful Girls (1996) .... Tracy Stover
Mystic Pizza (1988) .... Kat Arujo

Tom Bower ... Frank Nixon
Pain Within (2007) .... Joseph
North Country (2005) .... Gray Suchett
Bill's Gun Shop (2001) .... Tom
Going Greek (2001) .... Bill
Pollock (2000) .... Dan Miller
River's Edge (1986) .... Bennett

Tony Goldwyn ... Harold Nixon
American Gun (2005) .... Frank
Ghosts Never Sleep (2005) .... Jared Dolan
"The L Word" .... Burr Connor (2 episodes, 2005)
The Last Samurai (2003) .... Colonel Bagley
The Pelican Brief (1993) .... Fletcher Coal
Ghost (1990) .... Carl Bruner

Larry Hagman ... 'Jack Jones'
=============================
'Jack Jones': Detente with communists? Detente! Sounds like a couple of **** dancing.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Primary Colors (1998) .... Gov. Fred Picker
"Dallas" .... John Ross 'J.R.' Ewing, Jr. (357 episodes, 1978-1991)
S.O.B. (1981) .... Dick Benson
"I Dream of Jeannie" .... Major Anthony Nelson / ... (139 episodes, 1965-1970)
Fail-Safe (1964) .... Buck
Ensign Pulver (1964) .... Billings

Edward Herrmann ... Nelson Rockefeller (as Ed Herrmann)
"Gilmore Girls" .... Richard Gilmore (154 episodes, 2000-2007)
Ri¢hie Ri¢h (1994) .... Richard Rich
Compromising Positions (1985) .... Bob Singer
Concealed Enemies (1984) (TV) .... Alger Hiss
Annie (1982) .... FDR
Reds (1981) .... Max Eastman

Madeline Kahn ... Martha Mitchell
Clue (1985) .... Mrs. White
High Anxiety (1977) .... Victoria Brisbane
Young Frankenstein (1974) .... Elizabeth
Blazing Saddles (1974) .... Lili Von Shtupp
Paper Moon (1973) .... Trixie Delight
What's Up, Doc? (1972) .... Eunice Burns

Dan Hedaya ... Trini Cardoza
Mulholland Dr. (2001) .... Vincenzo Castigliane
Dick (1999) .... President Richard M. Nixon
A Night at the Roxbury (1998) .... Kamehl Butabi
Marvin's Room (1996) .... Bob
Clueless (1995) .... Mel Horowitz
"Cheers" .... Nick Tortelli (6 episodes, 1984-1993)

Tony Lo Bianco ... Johnny Roselli
The Juror (1996) .... Louie Boffano
Bloodbrothers (1978) .... Tommy De Coco
The Seven-Ups (1973) .... Vito Lucia
The French Connection (1971) .... Sal Boca
The Honeymoon Killers (1970) .... Raymond Fernandez
The Sex Perils of Paulette (1965) (as Anthony Greco) .... Allen

Tony Plana ... Manolo Sanchez
================================
Richard M. Nixon: Do you miss Cuba, Manolo?
Manolo Sanchez: Yes, Mr. President.
Richard M. Nixon: We let you down, didn't we. Your people.
Manolo Sanchez: That was Mr. Kennedy, sir.
Richard M. Nixon: You don't think he was a hero?
Manolo Sanchez: [shrugs] He was a politican.
Richard M. Nixon: Did you cry when he died?
Manolo Sanchez: Yes.
Richard M. Nixon: Why?
Manolo Sanchez: I don't know. He made me... see the stars.
Richard M. Nixon: How did he do that?
[a beat. Nixon is deep in thought]
Richard M. Nixon: All those kids... Why do they hate me so much?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Ugly Betty" .... Ignacio Suarez (42 episodes, 2006-2008)
Fidel (2002) (TV) .... Gen. Fulgencio Battista
Noriega: God's Favorite (2000) (TV) .... Colonel Diaz-Herrera
"Bakersfield P.D." .... Luke Ramirez (17 episodes, 1993-1994)
JFK (1991) .... Carlos Bringuier
Salvador (1986) .... Major Maximiliano 'Max' Casanova

Saul Rubinek ... Herb Klein
Call Me: The Rise and Fall of Heidi Fleiss (2004) (TV) .... Dr. Paul Fleiss
"Frasier" .... Donny Douglas (16 episodes, 1999-2002)
The Contender (2000) .... Jerry Tolliver
Pale Saints (1997) .... Whitey
True Romance (1993) .... Lee Donowitz
Wall Street (1987) .... Harold Salt

John C. McGinley ... Earl in Training Film
"Scrubs" .... Dr. Perry Cox (151 episodes, 2001-2008)
Car 54, Where Are You? (1994) .... Officer Francis Muldoon
Born on the Fourth of July (1989) (as John McGinley) .... Official #1 - Democratic Convention, Pushing Wheelchair
Talk Radio (1988) .... Stu
Wall Street (1987) .... Marvin
Platoon (1986) .... Sgt. Red O'Neill

===============================================
Richard M. Nixon: [on TV] ... because people have got to know whether or not their President is a crook. Well, I am not a crook.
Henry Kissinger: Oh, God, I think I'm going to throw up.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ September 20, 2008

two generations of perspective

i'm playing nixon on a regular dvd player and the quality is outstanding.

but the real treat on this new re-release is the special features. in one stone explains how viewing nixon again after so many years makes you realize how one's perspective changes with time. he is SO right. as a child of the 60s i hated nixon so i largely tried to ignore him. stone made me realize that nixon is part of our history and understanding him helps us understand the times he lived and the events that still shape our country and our future. you have to watch stone speaking, he is so charismatic.

if you have put off buying nixon now is the time, if for no other reason than this version has a new documentary by oliver's son sean. i loved the docs he did for alexander but this is something different all together. the production values and content are as good as anything on cnn or even the history channel. people on both sides of the nixon issue are included with clips from the film and news footage.

my only disappointment is that we don't see sean stone. i can't help but be curious. except for a short clip on amazon he is very elusive. but judging by his work so far it won't be long before he is the new star on the horizon. August 21, 2008

Nixon -- masterpiece of brilliant, flawed President

Oliver Stone's Nixon was among the finest films of the nineties, and also among the most under appreciated. Anthony Hopkins cuts through the mystery of this complex man and captures his conflicted and wounded soul in a performance that earned him an Oscar nomination for best actor, and stands among his finest work. Both Stone and his actor are not interested in attacking Nixon, but rtather exploring his life for all its complexities and contradictions, and studying how a man could achieve so much and yet fall so hard? Almost Shakespearean in its tone, it is a stunner, with a mesmerizing performance from Joan Allen as "Plastic Pat" who knew better than anyone the flaws of the disgraced Presidnet. Though he resigned in a sea of scandal is it not interesting that every single US President to follow sought his advice in matters of foreign affairs? As he hoped, history has been kind to Richard Milhous Nixon, and so it should be. July 7, 2008

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