There are the handful of historians out there who have always been in the loop on lthe Samuel Byck story and not knowing where he appears in history must be somewhat confounding to them...like I ge t sometimes when Canadians aren't aware of the our most notorious Mountie, Sam Steele (albeit, Steele was somewhat of a hero and not a potential assassin). Steele was the man who managed to coin the phrase "we always get out man". The quote is often better known than the man who said. it.
It's hard to imagine at what point in The Assassination of Richard Nixon where fiction steps in and fact runs out. The whole story seems so feasible and in keeping with the kind of mentality that leads to political ire and subsequently the kind of extremes exhibited by Samuel Bicke (as he is named in the film). Sean Penn pulls off one of his greatest performances since his appearance as the tightly-wound, about to spring ex con out to avenge his daughter's death in Clint Eastwood's remarkable Mystic River. Penn of course has had a stellar career of performing men on the edge. What's more, his performances, no matter how similar from one film to the other, never tires. He is always worth watching and in this film, a relatively small production that seem to come out of nowhere, his performance remains stunning.
Penn captures Bicke (Byke) as a man in a downward spiral. He lost his wife to divorce, is on the verge of losing his job, and will, within the course of the film, lose the respect and protection of his family. (Character actor Michael Wincott plays Bicke's exasperated brother in a scene that should be studied as an example of a two hander carrying the dramatic force of a full-fledge battle scene.) For Penn, Bicke is a man worthy of concern. The system seems to be playing against him, but his need to find someone other than himself to blame for this string of bad luck is easily his worse enemy. Bicke is a man who cannot help himself up. He's lost and instead of finding his way out of the woods, he's running full speed deeper into them.
Having the chance to speak with writer/director Niels Mueller offers a great deal of insight to a man history has pushed aside (even when it comes to criminals, America acknowledges only those who succeed). This may be a work of fiction - to an extent - but it is also a look into the mind of someone who is unable to seperate state from their own failings.
The Assassination of Richard Nixon should be seen. It's compelling drama that (not unlike the Titanic) is not spoiled by knowing the outcome. (You may be unaware of Samuel Byck, but you are probably aware that Nixon was never assassinated.)
This is a suspense film that relies on the intensity of it's characters. And when it comes to intensity, Penn delivers.
