directed by Niels Mueller
USA / Mexico 2004

 

  Frankly, I enjoyed this while viewing, always marveling at the chameleon Sean Penn, but reflecting afterwards I found the film a bit hollow. 'Sam Bicke' (Sean Penn) was a power keg ready to blow. A meek, quiet man struggling to survive and consciously aware of his place as a citizen and the unjust regularities of society. One of those being his occupation as a salesperson - he just didn't want to tell falsehoods to customers to make sales.

Based on a true story (I don't know how true) Sam is having delusions - one is that Leonard Bernstein is his oracle whom he confesses and seeks advice from - all in his own head. Set against the backdrop of the Watergate scandal Sam sees the injustice... in life... in racial inequality ... in his separated wife seeking a new husband. His feeble attempts at change cause him to lash out in a big way. Akin to "Falling Down" but much more socially real. Penn really carries the film, as he can do. It is sad but, most unfortunately, a story too often told and offering no solutions. Its voyeuristic appeal into the psychologically unbalanced is an dark exploitive draw. If it wasn't for Penn, I'd say skip-it.  out of   

Gary W. Tooze

Posters

Theatrical Release: May 17th, 2004 - Cannes Film Festival

Reviews    More Reviews    DVD Reviews

DVD Review: MGM - Region 1 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover

   

CLICK to order from:
Distribution MGM - Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime 1:35:03 
Video 1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 7.18 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:

Audio English (Dolby Digital 5.1) English (Dolby Digital 2.0) , DUBs: French (Dolby Digital 5.1)  , French (Dolby Digital 2.0) 
Subtitles English, Spanish, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: MGM

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 1.85:1

Edition Details:

• none

DVD Release Date: April 26th, 2005
Keep Case
Chapters: 20

 

 

Comments:

Standard fare from MGM - moderately weak transfer and no extras. I actually saw some combing at one stage - no, I still think its a progressive transfer, but not a premium one. Barely dual layered at 5.35 gig - they surely had room enough for some extra features. Tube viewing will be fine and the black levels are acceptable - even strong. I don't see manipulation. No contrast boosting and the image holds a degree of sharpness.   out of

Gary W. Tooze

 




DVD Menus

 

Subtitle Sample

 

 

 

Screen Captures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DVD Box Cover

   

CLICK to order from:
Distribution MGM - Region 1 - NTSC

 




 

Hit Counter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

Mail cheques, money orders, cash to:    or CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Thank You!

The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn DVD Review MGM The Assassination of Richard Nixon Sean Penn