Posted on 09/14/2004 5:07:04 PM PDT by Libloather
Sean Penn Links Dark Nixon Film to Anger with Bush
2 hours, 11 minutes ago
By Cameron French
TORONTO (Reuters) - His sunglasses were heavy and so was the theme when Sean Penn met the press at the Toronto International Film Festival on Tuesday after screening a dark look at the Nixon era that unleashed a new wave of Oscar buzz about Penn's performance.
"The Assassination of Richard Nixon" traces the meltdown of Samuel Bicke, a failed husband and salesman and self-described "grain of sand" whose mounting frustrations drive him to make an unsuccessful attempt to hijack a jetliner and crash it into the White House.
Based on fact, the story is set during the time of the Watergate scandal with newscasts and footage of Nixon's speeches woven into the story.
As Bicke's growing resentment against the system drives him to alienate family and friends, he eventually hatches the plot that he hopes will validate him and make a statement against corruption.
Penn told reporters he disagrees with conjecture that the film sends the wrong message by giving Bicke precisely the type of fame he had hoped for.
"The story of a twisted head on a basically good man is a valuable story, and the results of what happened are more dangerous not to look at than to look at," he said.
And he was quick to take a jab at the current U.S. administration when asked about parallels with the turbulent era portrayed in the film.
"I think that administrations have to look at how they oppress their own people and people in other countries and understand that if they take people's hopes and dreams away, bad things can happen."
Commenting on people with similar frustrations today, he said: "I guess the problem is that, statistically, there's a lot more of them today and we can be grateful to President (George W.) Bush for that."
The film was billed as having its world premiere at Toronto but it was screened outside of competition at Cannes earlier this year.
It also stars Don Cheadle as Bicke's friend and would-be business partner, Naomi Watts as his ex-wife, and Jack Thompson as his boss and, as Thompson describes the character, chief tormenter.
But with the click of camera shutters rising to a din every time he brought his lit cigarette close to his mouth, it was clear that the center of attention was Penn, who some say has a good chance to add to the best actor Oscar he took home earlier this year for "Mystic River."
The film won't hit theaters until late December, prime time for movies expected to get Oscar attention but well after the November U.S. election, as first-time director Niels Mueller pointed out to a reporter who asked whether he was hoping to influence voters.
Mueller happened upon Bicke's story while doing research for a movie about assassins. He decided to focus the movie on Bicke instead, making some factual changes, but trying to produce a movie that captured the turmoil of the man.
"I think in many ways the film explores the thin line that separates many of the people that feel powerless in their lives," he said.
"This was a person who sought and heard the notion of the American dream and internalized it."
Their timing sucks. If this is some sorta shot at the second Duyba term, it's lame. Now, if Sean turns in a great performance as Rather Dan in the Great CBS Cover-up Caper, I may go see that...
And Americans link Sean Penn to crappy movies and that whore Madonna.
Every time I hear this weiner's name (Sean Penn) all I can think of is "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"....and how he's STILL a MORON.
I actually know this director and he's been trying to make this film since early in Clinton's first term. Clearly not a hit piece on his part. Just a guy trying to make his first film.
Jeff Spicoli was his only likeable role. In every other role, he's pretty much been a scowling, pouty bore.
Boy, when are they gonna make a film about the guy that flew the Cessna into the WH during Clinton's term? Or the guy that started shooting at the WH during the aforementioned's term? Would seem to be easier targets (pardon the pun)
Sean Ppenn has been so oppressed by this administration that it's easy to see his point. Idiot!!!
France has a film festival and they get Michael Moore, canada has one and all they can muster is Sean Penn.
"The story of a twisted head on a basically good man LOSER is a valuable ANOTHER VALUELESS STORY on the heap of Hollywood Shite, and the results of what happened are more dangerous not to look at than to look at EXACTLY the kind of thing I would do if I could only stop pretending for a living."
"I think that administrations have to look at how they oppress their own people and people in other countries and understand that if they take people's hopes and dreams away, bad things can happen I need to forgive my girly-man commie daddy, Leo, who I hate with all my being, and who I have also, consequently become.*
Commenting on people with similar frustrations today, he said: "I guess the problem is that, statistically, there's a lot more of them today and we can be grateful to President (George W.) Bush for that I can beat up a woman much easier than I can a man."
Pray for the hostages ... also known as Sean Penn's wife and kids.
*Before Sean was even born his father, Leo Penn, who was an actor on Broadway and in films in the late 40s, used his celebrity to make social statements. Leo was blacklisted for a decade in the 1950s for refusing to give names to the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) of those in the Hollywood community with communist ties. Supposedly one of Sean's earlier memories is of his father taking him to the set of The Last Tycoon near to the family home. There the director, Elia Kazan, someone who had named names at the hearings, tried to say hello. But Leo, normally warm and friendly, walked straight past, a point of integrity his son could not fail to notice. Unlike many of the blacklisted actors of the time, Leo's entertainment career survived his political stance and he went on to make a name for himself behind the camera, in television rather than feature films. During his career, he directed than 400 hours of prime-time television programming, including episodes of Bonanza, Ben Casey, Starsky & Hutch, Magnum P.I., Columbo, Kojak, and St. Elsewhere.
Damn! I was hoping to see that this weekend. Is there a premiere taht I can see?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.