Nixon (1995)

Plot:  Oliver Stone's Biopic of Richard Nixon
Stars:  James Woods, Anthony Hopkins,  Joan Allen, Bob Hoskins,
Best Quote:  Always remember: others may hate you. But those who hate you don't win unless you hate them. And then you destroy yourself.

I had a hard time finishing this one
Extremely dull Biopic with some good performances. Its too long (3 hours), rambling and aimless - no drive/energy. One problem - having Nixon and associates played by actors, while everyone else (JFK, Ike, LBJ, etc.) are only shown via news-footage. And the Nixon childhood scenes are faker than fake. Stone tries to jazz up the film with quick edits, flashbacks, and weird lighting and camera angles. But its still boring.

Anthony Hopkins Performance
Hopkins gives a good performance - but the *real* Richard Nixon was 10x better at playing "Nixon." Just watch the *real* Nixon's 1962 farewell press conference or  1952 Checker's speech.  Plus, Hopkins doesn't sound or look anything like "Tricky Dick".

But that's a longstanding problem with Hollywood biopics.  The actors don't measure up to the real-life politicians, Generals, or old movie stars.  The real Gable, Grace Kelly, Ike, MacArthur, FDR, Reagan, Monroe, etc. are way better actors then the movie stars who've played them!  The only exception: George C. Scott as Patton.

Was Nixon's Biography really Movie Material?
That's another problem,  Political junkies, like Oliver Stone, would disagree, but Nixon's life isn't that interesting.  Nixon, *the man*, was interesting.  His psychology, contradictions, hatreds, resentments, and views on JFK, the Press, etc.

But his marriage or the events of his Life?  Not really.  Unlike JFK, there was no PT-109 adventure, Jackie O, assassination, or Cuban Missile Crisis. Nixon just plugged away his whole life as a Lawyer/Pol**.   He was a moderate Republican, who never had a great foreign policy crisis..

Summary:  Don't bother - watch Altman's Secret Honor instead. For political junkies and Oliver Stone fans only.

** - Watergate has to be one of the dullest political scandals ever.  No sex, no violence, and it wasn't about money or even foreign spies. Nixon didn't resign over the burglary - it was the "cover-up". Its the sort of scandal lawyers find fascinating - and everyone else yawns.