You would think that with an impeccable Academy Award cast of Sean Penn, Don Cheadle, and Naomi Watts, you would get a highly dramatic film with compelling subject matter. I mean, after all, the title is the subject, and assassinations of presidents often result in excellent films (you have to look no further than Oliver Stone’s JFK on that one). But in this case, you would be wrong. Dead wrong.

The Assassination Of Richard Nixon is a boring, monotonous film with only a glimmer of potential. Sure, the above-mentioned actors play their roles well, and Penn proves again why he is destined for legendary actor status, but not even their performances, or quick cut editing, can save a film that just seems to waste time rather than engage you properly. Penn plays Samuel Bicke, a salesman and estranged husband who is continuously beat down by the system and his personal life. His soon to be ex-wife (Watts) can’t stand being around him, his friend (Cheadle) tolerates him out of pity, and his bosses at his job constantly berate him and force him to go against his morals to make a sale.

Bicke’s perception is that no one should be forced to lie, to make a living. He has dreams of starting his own business, and possesses innumerable ideas (many of them extremely off the wall) for social change. When everything in his life begins to go to hell, and none of his ideas are accepted, Bicke channels his anger into the possible death of president Richard Nixon (during the time of his infamous Watergate scandal). Thus, hoping that the biggest liar in the world’s death would implement the changes he envisions.

Most of the film focuses on Bicke’s inner confliction with his sales ability, and his inability to re-connect with his wife. The Richard Nixon angle is hinted at briefly during the film and executed in the last ten minutes of the film (which ironically are the most compelling moments). Of course, everyone knows that Nixon was never assassinated. I had never heard of a planned assassination against him until I heard about this film. Bicke’s story is a small blip on the radar, and the film is only mildly intriguing to see how his quest of assassination failed miserably (trust me I’m not spoiling anything here). Otherwise you have a dry, and depressing character study of a deeply disturbed individual.