X
- 1995
- R
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- 3 h 12 m
- 1995
- R
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- 3 h 12 m
Summary Nixon takes a look at a complex man whose chance of greatness was ultimately destroyed by his passion for power -- when his involvement in conspiracy jeopardized the nation's security and the presidency of the United States! (Buena Vista Entertainment)
Directed By: Oliver Stone
Written By: Stephen J. Rivele, Christopher Wilkinson, Oliver Stone
- 1995
- R
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- 3 h 12 m
- 1995
- R
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- 3 h 12 m
Nixon
66
7.0
Where to Watch
Summary Nixon takes a look at a complex man whose chance of greatness was ultimately destroyed by his passion for power -- when his involvement in conspiracy jeopardized the nation's security and the presidency of the United States! (Buena Vista Entertainment)
Directed By: Oliver Stone
Written By: Stephen J. Rivele, Christopher Wilkinson, Oliver Stone
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 22 Critic Reviews
66
77% Positive
17 Reviews
17 Reviews
9% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
14% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 22 Critic Reviews
66
77% Positive
17 Reviews
17 Reviews
9% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
14% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
It's a superb, thoughtful drama that doesn't claim to be a documentary and shouldn't be judged as such. [22 Dec 1995, p.B]
This three-hour opus, bearing only the eponymous title of Nixon, is an intriguing ramble through the social psychology of man and country alike. Indeed, the simple dialectics that both animated and marred Stone's earlier work are redeemed here precisely because they're invested in a single, complex personality - consequently, this film is more character-driven than any of its predecessors. [20 Dec 1995, p.C1]
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 46 User Ratings
7.0
70% Positive
32 Ratings
32 Ratings
17% Mixed
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
13% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 46 User Ratings
7.0
70% Positive
32 Ratings
32 Ratings
17% Mixed
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
13% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
I wasn't a fan of this on first viewing, mostly because I didn't buy Hopkins as Nixon, and found segments of it dull. But recently I have come to appreciate it more - it is a very ambitious film, and overall it does a fine job of telling the Nixon story, of course with a fair amount of Stonian poetic license. For example, Stone concludes that the notorious missing 18 minutes of recorded conversations must have been about the JFK assassination, a speculation I don't recall seeing anyplace else. Most of the performances are first rate, Joan Allen's in particular. Hopkins gets the voice right, but his attractive features fail to convey Nixon's famous ugliness, and he doesn't bring to life the man's nastiness and vindictiveness. There are a lot of interesting visual techniques put into play here, as usual for a Stone film, and the script is impressive too.
Tricky **** Nixon was a hated figure, mostly because of the Vietnam War, and this was something that clearly weighed on him. The film is surprisingly sympathetic and portrays him as a basically decent man who went astray in a couple of areas. It is difficult to understand today why he had so many supporters. Perhaps he conveyed an image of steady, serious leadership? All in all, a good political biopic that held my attention for 3.5 hours - that is something noteworthy right there.
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Nixon, while succeeding as a rather sympathetic character study of the man, drags on and on for over 3 hours without a moment of happiness or joy. It is a very depressing and sullen look at Nixon's life, even if the movie works on this angle. However, Hopkins' performance as well as the subtle nuances in the cinematography and the subliminal messages make it an important film to see, flaws and all.
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It's gripping psychodrama -- just don't confuse Nixon with history. The revelation that comes with unbiased research remains a Stone's throw away.
Nixon is in many ways an impressive, well-crafted piece of work. With name actors in more than 20 parts, it is as intelligently cast as any movie this year, and includes at least one exceptional performance, though not the one you're expecting.
Mr. Stone's compassion for his subject overwhelms his film's false moves. And the barrage of undramatized, undigested data gives way to a much tighter and more artful vision...the film starts snowballing its way to real dramatic power. [20 Dec 1995, p.C11]
For all its unwieldy temporal scope and narrowness of perspective, Nixon is an amazingly graceful beast, flawed yet invigorating, packed with enough material that will fascinate and irk moviegoers of all stripes for quite a time to come.
There's not a single moment here in which Nixon is admirable, decisive or appealing. Nixon doesn't work as a drama, but with a little push it might have been a great comedy.
Richard Nixon is one of the most controversial heads of state of the twentieth century. During his tenure as president of the United States, he earned a general hatred almost as high as the power and influence of his office. He was investigated, vilified, attacked but never condemned. Even though I'm not an American nor an expert of these period, I feel it is necessary to make an unbiased and objective historical analysis of this president, I just don't know if that has already happened. Even so, the film we have here didn't seem partial, trying to remain neutral to some extent.
Directed by Oliver Stone, it's not appropriate for people who don't know anything about Nixon, or Watergate, or this period of American history, since the film wasn't wasting time explaining anything. So if you didn't understand why Nixon opened the US to China or what was the Watergate or the Bay of Pigs, I suggest you ignore the movie for now and first go read some books or see some documentaries about it. Another problem I want to highlight is the huge web of conspiracies and obscure theories that the film weaves around the president. It never lets us understand what "crimes of responsibility" Nixon has committed. The film also suggests, without subtleties, that Nixon was a simple man who rose in life but wasn't accepted by the "American aristocracy" because of this humble origin, which left him deeply hurt. I don't know if it's true, but the film indicates that as origin of President's lack of scruples.
Anthony Hopkins assures the main role in an interesting performance, but that's far from being his best. He made a good preparation and tried his best to be Nixon, but has few physical similarities with him, not to mention his extreme difficulty in imitating president's characteristic voice. Anyway, Hopkins was brilliant at his character's psychological work, with most dramatic scenes going on as he, semi-drunk, reviews his decisions while listening to his famous audio tapes. The remaining cast does a reasonable supporting work. I will not close my review without left a word of appreciation to the sets and costumes, which rebuilt the atmosphere and culture of the Seventies quite well, much like the rooms and offices within White House. Not being exceptional, it's an elegant, quality film, that helps us think about an important period in American history.
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Guilty Or Not Guilty.
Nixon
Stone's now-a-complete anthology on American politics from '60s to '70s, is a set that may dwell well in contrast to his rest of the installment, but as an individual, in its single entity, it is a "blah" forward pass. This meticulous venture of Stone was clearly not easy to bind it all in one act. Such political films that barely has any concrete material to follow, takes a lot of work to narrate it linearly with a definite structure. And covering all the controversies and debates, Stone has put up a behemoth stature for us to climb, it is a long way up but it is worth all the effort.
Unlike, his other similar features, this one lacks enthralling encounters that leads on electrifying debates, in fact if anything, it is too diplomatic to lose its control and let things flow, Stone is too calculative to make it cinematic. And if there are these many restraints on script, the making of the film, is boost off supremely by its stunning cast. And the titled character is played by Hopkins whose research on Nixon is a testament to his sheer brilliant performance. His best bits are when he shares the screen by his supporting actress Allen, who is equally challenging to him on screen.
The eerie editing and camera work does help Stone to make his point clear, but Hopkins's act has a rhythm of its own, the first time he convinces Allen to not leave him is the apt example for it. These are also tiny packets of firecrackers that we get in this overstretched version of Stone's dive on shady political drama, since the rest of the part is too mellow to demand our attention. Nixon managed to lose even in comparison to Stone's JFK, it is a biography that no one asked for.
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Production Company
Hollywood Pictures,
Illusion Entertainment,
Cinergi Pictures Entertainment
Release Date Dec 20, 1995
Duration 3 h 12 m
Rating R
Tagline He changed a world. But lost a nation.
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 4 Nominations
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Nomination
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
• 2 Wins & 4 Nominations
