synopsis:

this movie tells The story of richard nixon, former president of the United States whose presidency ended in disgrace. The only U.

S. president ever to resign his office to avoid being impeached.

The movie, however, is more than a story about Nixon. It is about the events that transpired before, during, and after Nixon's administration. Regardless of whether it is a good or bad thing, in many ways, the direction the U.

S.

A. was moving in was substantially altered during this period. But it would be a folly to think Nixon as the man (solely) responsible for this, states stone by way of this film. The one distinct feature about Nixon was that he knowingly used the System to subvert its hold on the people holding power, and while it was almost guaranteed that Congress wouldn't like it, it was unfortunate he "got caught". Stone does a commendable job in bringing these points out.

In the movie, the System is compared to a wild beast. Stone's vision of this is seen throughout the movie in a subtle manner: presidential (and other) candidates come and go, but bureaucracies last forever. Nixon is portrayed as actually trying to fight this, and this makes one realise how petty and insipid the game of politics is. the theme of 'nixon' is that Nixon was no better or no worse than all the people before and after him who hold positions of power.

During the movie, when Nixon is debating Kennedy, one of his aides says "it isn't a beauty contest." However, Stone does appear to have made it into a bit of one - Anthony Hopkins' portrayal of Nixon makes him to be a pathetic and depressed person (in contrast, John Kennedy is portrayed as handsome and distinguished).

about this movie:

many people have a view of nixon as either a political tyrant or a political hero. Oliver Stone presents a neutral view in this movie, starring Anthony Hopkins, Joan Allen, Powers Boothe, Ed Harris, Bob Hoskins and E.

G. Marshall,
leaving the viewers to form, or possibly re-think, their own judgements. Throughout the film, one message is clear: Nixon was an opportunist and an egomaniac. But what Stone, his co-screenwriters Stephen Rivele and Christopher Wilkinson, and the actor Anthony Hopkins bring to the table is an insight into Nixon's aching humanity, his sometimes humility, his twisted charisma, his depth as a human being.

The cinematography is excellent.

Stone uses his standard tricks (black and white shots randomly scattered, rearrangement of timelines, MTV-style cutting and panning, and superimposition of images) to make this a gripping tale. The superb performances by the various actors helped in this regard.the movie caused some controversy because Nixon's survivors and family claimed the movie defames the memory of the man and plays too loose with facts.the (controversial) idea of presenting nixon as a tragic figure may have inspired the lyrics of the love of richard nixon.