Not only Sean Penn but the great Jack Thompson as well!

A long, slow burn to radical action. Sad to watch the loser lose everything.

Great to know history, Penn good. It could be better

Disturbing with misleading title.

"The Assassination of Richard Nixon" is about a man on a collision course; given the stark terms in which he arranges right and wrong, he will sooner or later crack up. He hasn't a clue about appropriate behavior, about how others perceive him, about what may be right but is nevertheless impossible. The movie's title has one effect before we see it, and another afterward, when we can see the grandiosity and self-deceit that it implies. What really happens is that Sam Bicke assassinates himself. Does the film have a message? I don't think it wants one. It is about the journey of a man going mad. A film can simply be a character study, as this one is. That is sufficient. A message might seem trundled in and gratuitous. Certainly our opinions of Nixon, Vietnam and the Black Panthers are irrelevant; they enter the movie only as objects of Bicke's obsessions.

Penn spellbinding in an otherwise lacklustre picture.

Film has some power behind it, in Penn's performance, the story, etc.

Entertaining. Sean Penn does an excellent job of being an awkward and delusional loser.

Underrated. How Sean Penn wasn't nominated for an Oscar is crazy talk.

"Certainty is the disease of kings." - Nuff said. Excellent acting by Sean Penn.

A superb and powerful movie that gives Penn room to dominate with a subtle performance that captures the feel of the Nixon era and how the pressures of life can change a simple man.

This is what happens when men aren't allowed to cry. Just kidding, we have to address mental illness in America, that's kind of what I came away from this movie thinking. Anyhow, great acting by Sean Penn, he's definitely the selling point and the reason I needed to add the extra half-star. The scene of him yelling at the television = A+. Other than that, interesting story but a little too lovingly told... the movie is too on Bicke's side, it should have abandoned him at the end like all of the other characters.

I think Penn's outstanding performance somewhat makes up for the film's problems, making it appear engaging where a lesser actor would have floundered with the vague screenplay. The filmmakers go out of their way to establish Bicke as an angry outsider but they never really find a way to connect that with his attempt to assassinate Nixon or the voice recordings he sent to Leonard Bernstein.

Just got this out of a dvd shop. Great movie looking forward to seeing it again

The Assassination of Richard Nixon has everything you could hope for in a quality film. An engaging story full of interesting characters, great acting, score and all that jazz, a great piece of work. The film is set in the 1970s and revolves around it's central character, Sam Bick, a man who can't hold down a job, and has problems connecting with people socially. The film follows Sam on his unrelenting course of bad luck that will eventually prove to be too much for him to take. Compared by many to Taxi Driver, the film perhaps has more in common with Falling Down, Sam always complains about being held down by "the system" and how "the little man" is mistreated and such, the film does very well with this topic, leaving it open as to whether Sam is letting it get to him too much, or if he really is being mistreated, certainly different viewpoints and multiple viewings could generate many different views on the film. Sean Penn as usual is an acting tour de force, I've often criticised him privately for taking what I'd called "Gunning for Ocsars roles" a role that involves a mental breakdown or a disability or suchlike covered in a dramatic manner, that usually guarantees an Oscar nomination. An actor solely concerned with winning trophies, I do sometimes wish he'd take a few more risks rather than sticking to the "oscar" formula. He could be accused of that again here, but to be honest, whatever his intentions with making such a film, if he puts in a good performance there can be no complaints, and here he is exceptional, never going over the top, it's easily one of his best performances and certainly, the character of Sam Bicke is one that any actor would relish and provides good subject matter for a very good film. 4 Stars 9-29-13

Sean penn is my fav actor. Never lets ya down. Really sad story- lets hope ppl think and learn something. Inspired by true events- doesnt surprise me

He is believable... Great freak

Inspired by real events and in the same vein as Taxi driver, The Assassination of Richard Nixon is a character study of a man who is losing faith in society and the government through the many setbacks in his own life. The man is Sam Bicke and is brilliantly played by Sean Penn. The movie can seem a bit slow at times but it is this lead performance that makes it worth while. A decent supporting cast includes Don Cheadle and Naomi Watts. It is an emotional story of a desperate man who is knocked back at every turn, but just wants to leave his mark.

I wanted to drill a hole into my head watching Sean Penn play Sam Byck. He was almost as delayed as he was in I AM SAM (http://i2.listal.com/image/2577861/600full-i-am-sam-screenshot.jpg). This would be me if my penis and scrotum had disappeared forever. or if I was never was able to move on after oscar's mother. The poor sap...The film gets credit from me for the mentioning of Anti-establishment heroes Robert Preston, Russell Means, Harold Mann and for Penn's feeble righteous attempts. But damn was he irritating to stand. Bonny and his family should have referred him to a psychiatrist immediately, but America had a lot of growing up to do in 1974. And the stigma surrounding mental health remains with us today so apparently we are still wearing pampers. 2/5

Another great display by Penn. Top actor.