Twenty-eight years ago, director Martin Scorsese brought an uncompromising tale of alienation and psychological devastation to the cinema with the cult classic “Taxi Driver.” First-time director Neils Mueller has accomplished a similar feat with “The Assassination of Richard Nixon.”
Mueller’s film is a compelling character study, boasting a number of solid performances. However, this is Sean Penn’s (“21 Grams”) film to carry, and he does so marvelously. Penn once again demonstrates why he’s one of the best screen actors of his or any generation.
Sam Bicke (Penn) is a man who is struggling to stay afloat — mentally, emotionally and economically. When the film opens, he is already separated from his wife, Marie (Naomi Watts, “I