THE EIGHTH IN A FAIRLY REGULAR SERIES OF FORGOTTEN FILMS THAT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED.

So what do I have for your delight and delectation today?  Well I’ll tell you.  It’s a political masterpiece from a man whose previous political film didn’t really feature the person of the title.  It stars one of the best actors in the world and he gives an absolute powerhouse performance here in what is one of those films that when you see it you can’t help but be blown away by it’s technique and, well, epic storytelling of this incredibly able but also deeply flawed individual whose own flaws consume him.  It makes it a more uncomfortable viewing bearing in mind its historic (true like many historic films we can query where truth stops and screenwriting begins?) and that it is from our not so recent history.  From 1995 and a bum-numbing 190 mins it is not for someone who wants an hour and a half of fun, I present the case for Nixon (Never though I’d ever come out with that one!)

NIXON (1995)

Well, if ever there was a pointless task of writing a synopsis I guess this is it.  Nixon tells the story of Richard Milhouse Nixon and his rise in early politics to defeat at the hands of JFK and subsequent retiring from politics to his incredible comeback and subsequent fall from grace.  It looks as his skills as a debater, his tactical nous with foreign policy and also his absolute lack of skill with self-same foreign policy and a man whose personal hang-ups and failings caused his own ultimate downfall.  The film revolves around the central stunning performance by Anthony Hopkins who captures Nixon in all his sweaty glory and the fast-paced editing and stunning direction make this a must-see as part of, what I call, the greatest trilogy that never was.

I see this as a three film set of that period that begins with “All the Presidents men” (Based on the equally brilliant best-seller) the classic 1976 thriller which follows the path of the Washington Post journalists as they follow the money trail all the way back to the White House with the help of “Deep Throat” (brilliantly played by Hal Holbrook).  Nixon is the middle part of the trilogy looking at the wrangling, trials and tribulations of the man himself and then finally we have “Frost/Nixon” which looks at the aftermath and the legendary interview with the canny Brit broadcaster David Frost and how America finally healed itself.  

The other two films have probably garnered most of the critical acclaim; both are shorter, the earliest film has secured itself in many people’s hearts and minds and obviously “Frost/Nixon” is more recent so in a way “Nixon” has been pushed aside, AND, I’m not gonna lie to you, it is an uncomfortable viewing in some ways as it shows all the worst aspects of the man, and when watching it, when you see his finer moments you do feel like warning him to turn back, but like a Shakespearean tragedy the outcome is all too well known.  

If you do have the stomach for a hard-edge political bio then this is one of the finest you will see, and if you have about seven hours to spare and want to catch up on some riveting bits of American history brought to life by some of the finest actors around then I recommend the trilogy “All the Presidents Men”, “Nixon” and finally “Frost/Nixon” ...Just make sure you have plenty of food and  comfy chair.

Enjoy!

Ooh!  And as we are looking at three films on this one I’ve included trailers for all three.

And remember dear readers the first book FREE AT LAST: A NOVEL by MIKE LAMBERT & ZOE LAMBERT is still available on Amazon Kindle for £2.29 with my next book DEATH OF CELEBRITY: A NOVEL available in July.


Thanks for reading.




http://uk.movieposter.com/posters/archive/main/32/MPW-16171

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZBcPDePMjY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO2LWKpeyI8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibxs_2nDXUc