Nixon

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Film.
Review: Oliver Stone's "Nixon" is probably the greatest political film of recent years alongside his masterpiece, "JFK." Some people have attacked Stone for supposedly "re-writing" history, these are people who either don't care about knowing the dark truths history has to offer or don't understand how dramatic composition works. This is a brilliant, powerful and important work. Stone does not justify what Richard Nixon did, he instead, presents a portrait of a flawed man haunted by memories and events. There is a Shakespearean feel to the screenplay. The film is a look at how politics really works, how it's a jungle in that field where issues are forgotten and the object is to win. "Nixon" is a study of power, and how power really works in our system of government. Stone is one of the most brilliant filmmakers of our time, his film here is filled with powerful moments, intense, rich cinematography by Robert Richardson and an editing style that adds texture, realism and energy to the movie. As for re-writing history, the pundits who attack this movie are living in Disneyland and even John Dean claimed that there wasn't anything "unfair" in the dramatic license found in the script. Besides, who the hell goes to the movies to get the facts? For that watch a documentary (and those use a large degree of dramatic license too) or read a book! "Nixon," in it's depiction of how politics and the world works is completely accurate. If you don't believe it, do your own research and especially read Anthony Summers' "Official And Confidential: The Secret Life Of J.Edgar Hoover." Oliver Stone is one of the true film directors who dares to show the truth, who takes a mirror and forces us to look at ourselves. He understands how society and how we who live in society really do operate. Those who attack his work are the ones afraid to realize the realities of this world, they got no balls. He's a dramatic historian, a genius who's work is vital to the history of American cinema.

Rating:
Summary: What a boring and slanted movie!
Review: Thhis movie, i.e., Nixon VHS~ Anthony Hopkins, should without any doubt be called the most disjointed, rambling and boring movie of all time. I usually give movies a fair shake and give them the benefit of the doubt to make sure that I do not judge it to early. However, since I am not a big conspriracy theory person; I sometimes feel as if Oliver Stone has a "moral" obligation to always re-write history the way he thinks it ought to have been told. I am by no means defending what Richard Nixon did; since he did betray the rule of law ( which is the sacred duty of the preseident to protect). However, if Stone made a movie about Clinton (a person whom lied in court and was also a dispicable person whilst serving his country by also breaking the rule of law) then he, Mr. Clinton would be seen as a hero. Oliver Stone tries so hard throughout the first part of the movie to portray him as an idiot and a person with low morals that he is not talking about history; rather we are talking about "fictionalized" history were the director spins the facts only to convey a certain political agenda. This was afterall the man, i.e, President Nixon, whom opened diplomatic contacts with red China ( at a time when this was thought to be impossible) and this accomplishment should not be forgotten.

Rating:
Summary: Great acting in a very flawed film
Review: "Nixon" is perfect example of how to take outstanding performances by actors and totally negate them through what can only be described as gross artistic, technical, and historical license. Anthony Hopkins (as Richard Nixon), Joan Allen (as Pat Nixon), and Paul Sorvino (as Henry Kissinger) give powerful performances, but director/screenwriter Oliver Stone completely spoils their efforts with his positively weird use of camera angles, oddly placed scenes, color, and his blatant attempt to re-write history.

What remains is a completely disjointed, disorganized mess; a highly sensational and fictionalized study of a dark and brooding soul, told in such a way as to do a terrible injustice to performers, moviegoers, and history alike. On top of everything else, "Nixon" is far too long, moves too slowly, and is a complete bore.

Even Dick Nixon, for all his flaws, deserves better than this!!

Rating:
Summary: VIDEO OVER DVD
Review: I hope that this is helpful to both the prospective buyer .... Firstly, there is no "making-of" featurette on the DVD edition of this movie, as advertised. Secondly, there is about a half-hour worth of deleted scenes that were tagged on to the end of the Video edition of this movie. They are not on the DVD edition. How crucial are those scenes? More than those edited and then added to the Natural Born Killers release on Video & DVD. Another scene with Hoskins as "Hoover" explains Nixon's tapes and Hoovers apparent philosophy on personal record keeping. There is an interesting scene where we get a conversation between Nixon and his aide's where they discuss the hippy movement and their opinions shed a little light on the attitude of people surrounding the president. Call the scene "the Fig Leaf Topic". One scene cut has Nixon confronting his cabinet regarding press leaks. It seems to indicate his slipping into paranoia regarding alliegence and certainly another powerful moment where we see the president seperating himself from everyone and screaming through the looking-glass. Finally, the one real reason to have this feature (only available on Video) is the leangthy scene where Nixon meets with Richard Helms, Director of the CIA. Want to understand the difference between death and evil? Want to understand the dark conservative philosophy behind the cold war? The discussion is an explanation of the "Wild Beast" mentioned on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, as Helms explains the "organic appetites" of many of our nations mysterious ad-hoc institutions. Helms is perfectly Satanic. His place in history and its disclosure in this movie is as close we will ever come to personifying the evil of absolute power. As Emerson said, "Things are in the saddle and they ride mankind". Heed Stone's warning and mine too, if you will. In this rare instance I much prefer the Video release of this movie.

Rating:
Summary: A flawed, but fascinating account of American history
Review: I was 7-years-old when Nixon walked up the helicopter steps, turned around and raised both hands with his trademark peace signs, and departed the White House lawn, never to return again as President.

So, while this portrayal is perhaps not the best method to learn a chapter of American history that I was too young to remember, it sure comes awfully close. Hopkins' portrayal of Nixon is so good, it's almost eerie. Joan Allen is brilliant as Pat Nixon-- the Oscar nod is well-deserved. Sorvino IS Kissinger. The character portrayals of all the characters are simply stunning.

What I do have a problem with, however, is that Oliver Stone often comes off as pompous and self-righteous with some of the over-the-top liberties he takes with "dramatic historical accounts"--events that MAY have happened. That, along with the overdramatic music swells, odd camera angles, mood lighting, and other gimmicks that Stone incorporates to blur the line between fiction and reality.

Still, those flaws aside, this is a compelling story, that draws you in, and makes you not want to stop watching. While I have few doubts that Stone tells this from a bitter, over-the-hill, flower child point of view, it also seems that Stone almost pities Nixon, as a man who could have been remembered as a great achiever. This movie pulls no punches in showing that Nixon's achievements were overshadowed by his inability to overcome his demons.

Truly an unflinching view of a powerful moment of the 20th Century.

Rating:
Summary: Nixon triumphs at the hands of Stone
Review: First off, when you watch a film don't nitpick if it can hold a convention, go to nitpickers.com and criticize to your heart's content. The important thing in a film is its message, and Oliver Stone despite not liking Nixon explains why he is actually a hero. Stone told in an interview that he saw Nixon like he was his father.

Nixon grows up and wants to be loved, he wants to succeed, and every time he is kicked down he comes back again. He does care about people---as his impromptu midnight visit to the Vietnam war protestors shows. He marries an extraordinarily loving woman in Pat Nixon, who stands by him through the years. Both are exhausted over the years campaigning, trying to become President, yet they try one more time and win. Where do we get such people? Do we deserve such people? Nixon ponders as he re-enters his limo from visiting the protestotrs---was he a part of the dragon or was the dragon using him? Certainly the latter.

Stone has it right, the bottom line is that someone had to be crucified for Vietnam.

Someone had to pay. Yet, during this dark time, Nixon was THE right man to hold our country together and masterfully pull out from Vietnam and outflank the Soviets with opening talks with the Red Chinese. Only Cold Warrior Nixon could have pulled it off. And Stone definately anti-Nixon has to show this, because Stone has integrity. And this is really what happened to Nixon, he took "the fall" for Vietnam, and its the American people who are to blame for this. Just as they let their President get killed (JFK) and the guilty getting away, they let the mob mentality ruin Nixon.

The scene where Nixon asks Kissinger to come and pray with him is phenomenal and shows the humanity of Nixon who I think God rewarded for this.

As the film is ending, I wish Stone would let Nixon finish his farewell speech where he admits that if you hate you only destroy yourself and that he has seen many deep valleys but you never know the true value of the highpoints without the humility of the low points; beautiful stuff, should be left as is.

Anyway---the Nixon story does NOT end! Nixon recovers, writes books, helps craft foreign policy ideas for making Russia democratic---did America deserve such a great leader like Nixon? He gave his all, warts and all for us, and our "thank-you" is to make him the fall guy for our war. I'm not sure if Nixon fessed up to Watergate up front that the American people would have forgiven him, as Stone alludes with the character played by James Woods because they wanted someone to pay publicly for Vietnam. Interesting idea, though.

Get this video, watch it as a human being and not a nitpicker, put yourself in his shoes, empathize with the Nixon's and you will see that true greatness is who you are when you have fallen and what you do NEXT. An inspiring film.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating!
Review: A fascinating glimpse into the calculus of power as wielded at the highest level in modern America.Anthony Hopkins is a consummate actor.

Rating:
Summary: One of our greatest Presidents.
Review: This is another one of the best films Oliver Stone's ever made. Some critics have said that Hopkins portrayal of President Richard Nixon was dark and depressing. I disagree. It was a great portrayal and the film was a very good one also.

Rating:
Summary: "The President can bomb any body he likes"
Review: What a film,The best i've ever seen.An amazing film.The concept of one of the most corrupt White House government of all time had to be made in to a movie some time and of course Oliver Stone directed it brilliantly.It should have won more Oscars than the Flavvy and Rubbish TITANIC which was a useless and revolting film.Anthony Hopkins was a great Nixon but of course the old fashioned Academy of Motion Pictures,Arts and Sciences couldnt give him the Best Actor award as he rightly deserved.A superb backup cast of Joan Allen,Bob Hoskins and James Woods made it even better.Do Not By All Means Miss NIXON

Rating:
Summary: Veiwers see excellence in a strange way
Review: This is a great film. But in a way it keeps veiwers off balance. Black and white,Rear and back projections docu footage,tilted cameras,different angles, and missmatches