Nixon (Blu Ray)

Out of all the Oliver Stone's films that I've seen (JFK, Born on the 4th of July, Platoon, Natural Born Killers, Alexander, World Trade Center), Nixon is my personal favorite. I disagree with the critics who accuse Oliver Stone of being a history revisionist or a conspiracy theorist. I think those critics forget that Stone had set out to make a film (not a documentary) exploring the man, Richard Nixon. As you watch the film you can tell that extensive research was performed to make the events as accurate as possible but again, a film of this nature requires dramatic license - Stone even discloses this in the opening frames.

I've always loved Nixon as a character study as well as a Shakespearean-like tragedy. In the hands of another director, Nixon probably would have been reduced to a mere caricature but Stone paints a sensitive, moving, even-handed portrait of the much maligned president. Anthony Hopkins delivers an overwhelming performance as Nixon. It's amazing how seemingly easy that Hopkins inhabits the role of the former president - the intelligence, the ruthlessness, the paranoia, the manipulation, the awkwardness, the ambivalence as well as the humanity. Hopkins performs every gesture, nuance, inflection, and subtle expression that is as telling if not more that what he speaks verbally (ie Nixon's facial expressions often didn't match the words or what he was really thinking/feeling showing the inner conflict). The supporting cast are also amazing. Joan Allen more than holds her own as the first lady Pat Nixon. Mary Steenburgen as Nixon's mother Hannah Nixon, Paul Sorvino as Henry Kissinger, James Woods as H.R. Haldeman, the late JT Walsh as John Ehrlichman, Powers Boothe as General Al Haig... all top notch performances.

The screenplay is so awesome from beginning to end that it's really hard to pick a favorite scene. There are so many memorable scenes but the ones that come to mind as I write this,
- Opening bible verse from Matthew 16:26 .. very fitting for this film.
- Flashback scenes between Nixon and his mother - again, Mary Steenburgen is just wonderful here.
- Nixon vs CIA Director Helms - this was a deleted scene now restored into the film. I love the cat & mouse game here, the tension in this scene is awesome.
- Nixon & Manolo in the white house kitchen during the middle of the night. I love the reference to JFK and how Nixon was always under the shadow of JFK.
- Nixon & his staff on the presidential yacht - great writing here -> "triangular diplomacy," "bold moves," and "Nixon the madman."
- toward the end of the film where Nixon turns around and stares at the portrait of JFK -> that lingering "shadow of JFK" ... love it.
- Nixon and Kissinger in the Lincoln Room near the end of the film.
- Nixon's farewell speech - this was the actual speech from the real Richard Nixon. great speech. very emotional & heartfelt.

What ties the film together is the lovely score from John Williams. Most people know John Williams scores from movies like Star Wars but I think his score here is equally impressive and underappreciated.

Nixon moves at a very brisk pace with crisp editing and all the various montages. So even though the films clocks in at a staggering 3.5 hours there really isn't a dull moment. There is just tension, tension, tension from the get go and Stone keeps it that way throughout.

Stone's audio commentary is also a great listen. I love all the factoids as well as the insight as to why he composes the various scenes as he does. He's also very level headed especially in response to his critics.

Before this release, I've been "getting by" with the non anamorphic SD DVD and let me tell you - the SD DVD transfer left a lot to be desired. But the film itself is so strong that the experience with the SD DVD was better than say...VHS *gasp*. The Blu Ray, without a doubt, is a huge upgrade and really heightens the experience. Sure I could nitpick on the DNR but the overall upgrade in picture and sound is remarkable.