Nixon film review - Radio Times

Review

Cast & crew

Nixon

(1995)

Near the end of this biographical drama, the disgraced President gazes at a painting of John Kennedy and says, “When people look at you, they see what they want to be. When they look at me, they see what they are.” That's a great line, the key to Oliver Stone's movie, which, like his earlier JFK, is three hours of brilliance, provocation and information overload. Stone sees Nixon as a man suffering from paranoia, haunted by the spectre of two dead Kennedys and by his own dead brothers, yet devoted to his wife, a role beautifully played by Joan Allen. The movie makes great demands on the viewer and on Anthony Hopkins, whose brave performance is more an impression than an impersonation. At one point, Paul Sorvino's sinister Henry Kissinger says, “He had greatness within his grasp but he had the defects of his qualities.” Much the same can be said of this mesmerising, infuriating movie. AT

Contains swearing.

Tell us what you think
Email us at rtfilmcomments@bbc.co.uk to tell us what you think of this film. Your comments may appear in Radio Times magazine.

Running time

182mins

Country of origin

Genre

Biographical Drama

Original language

English

Screenplay

Stephen J Rivele, Christopher Wilkinson, Oliver Stone




awards information


	Award	Category	Name	Nominee/Winner

	Academy 1995	Actor in a Leading Role	Anthony Hopkins	Nominee
	Academy 1995	Actress in a Supporting Role	Joan Allen	Nominee
	Academy 1995	Writing (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen)	Christopher Wilkinson	Nominee
	Academy 1995	Writing (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen)	Stephen J Rivele	Nominee
	Academy 1995	Writing (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen)	Oliver Stone	Nominee
	BAFTA 1995	Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role	Joan Allen	Nominee