The point of "The Assassination of Richard Nixon" appears to be that its main character lacks the killer instinct in almost every aspect of his life. Ironically, the same can be said of the film.
While this '70s-period dramatic thriller is well-intentioned and has some pretensions about having insights, it fumbles its way around like a student production of "Taxi Driver" — right down to culminating in a bloody shootout scene.
Also, the filmmakers have mistakenly assumed that audiences will sympathize with the main character. But frankly, as written, he comes off as such a selfish, supposedly "principled" jerk that no one in their right mind would care to have anything to do with him.
That character is Samuel Bicke, played by Sean Penn. Samuel is separated from his wife Marie (Naomi Watts) and now finds himself working, without much enthusiasm, as an office-supply store salesman. He has aspirations to open his own mobile tire-service store from the back of a school bus. But he's encountering some difficulties getting a loan, especially since his partner (Don Cheadle) is black.
Also, frustrations are mounting at work and at home. His boss (Jack Thompson) is insisting he shave off his moustache and read self-help books to motivate him to do better. And it appears that Marie may have a boyfriend.
So Samuel begins directing the blame for his circumstances at the U.S. government — in particular, standing President Richard M. Nixon. And some recent news developments have given him some ideas about what to do.
Again, it's clear that writer-director Niels Mueller has some delusions about making the next "Taxi Driver," but nothing here has the sheer visceral impact of that film.
As for Penn, he struggles in vain to make us at least understand his character's emotional and personal turmoil. However, he's such an unpleasant ingrate that watching his life slowly erode becomes a chore.
Supporting-cast members Thompson and Cheadle do have some effective moments, but they're not onscreen nearly enough to make a difference. Neither is Watts' one-note estranged wife.
"The Assassination of Richard Nixon" is rated R for a strong scene of violence (shootings) and some graphic gore, occasional use of strong sexual profanity and some crude sexual slang terms, and brief partial female nudity (a strip-club scene). Running time: 95 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com