Like "Taxi Driver" from the 1970's this is a film about an outsider looking in and the personal frustrations that are pent-up until a certain point is reached and though we've seen material like this before this is still a very well made effort from a director making his debut and allows one of our finest actors to (once again) shine. Story takes place in Baltimore in 1974 where we see Samuel Bicke (Sean Penn) who is lousy at being an office supply salesman and who's marriage is just about over, though he insists that their working on it.
*****SPOILER ALERT***** Sam can't come to grips with the fact that his wife Marie (Naomi Watts) doesn't love him anymore and when he comes to visit their two daughters he tells her that his new job will change everything. Sam's boss Jack Jones (Jack Thompson) embarrasses him on the job and gives him advice on how to succeed at being a salesman to the point where Sam is given books to read about positive thinking. He knows he's a terrible salesman but what Sam really wants to do is start a tire business with his only friend Bonny (Don Cheadle) though his application for a loan is dragging along at a pace that he can't handle. When he's sitting alone in his apartment Sam records his thoughts on a tape recorder and sends them to composer Leonard Bernstein detailing his ever growing frustrations at not only his life but with the world in general including how President Nixon lied to the people.
With his debut film newcomer Niels Mueller shows great promise as a filmmaker not only with the good detail in the overall look but with the pace that allows the material to flow nicely which benefits the actors as well. Penn is easily one of our best actors and Mueller has enough sense to give him all the room he needs to give another solid performance which he does without wanting any sympathy from the audience. The film does a good job of making sure that viewers don't feel any remorse for Sam but instead makes sure that the circumstances leading up to his demise is clearly understood by all. The only part of the story that doesn't necessarily ring true is the supposed friendship between Sam and Bonny because Sam is clearly a man who's working on loose hinges and I couldn't believe that Bonny would allow him to come over for dinner with his family! Mueller and Penn paint a deep portrait of a pathetic outsider who's desperate to be heard and though we certainly don't feel sorry for him the talent involved make this film a riveting affair to watch.
*****SPOILER ALERT***** Sam can't come to grips with the fact that his wife Marie (Naomi Watts) doesn't love him anymore and when he comes to visit their two daughters he tells her that his new job will change everything. Sam's boss Jack Jones (Jack Thompson) embarrasses him on the job and gives him advice on how to succeed at being a salesman to the point where Sam is given books to read about positive thinking. He knows he's a terrible salesman but what Sam really wants to do is start a tire business with his only friend Bonny (Don Cheadle) though his application for a loan is dragging along at a pace that he can't handle. When he's sitting alone in his apartment Sam records his thoughts on a tape recorder and sends them to composer Leonard Bernstein detailing his ever growing frustrations at not only his life but with the world in general including how President Nixon lied to the people.
With his debut film newcomer Niels Mueller shows great promise as a filmmaker not only with the good detail in the overall look but with the pace that allows the material to flow nicely which benefits the actors as well. Penn is easily one of our best actors and Mueller has enough sense to give him all the room he needs to give another solid performance which he does without wanting any sympathy from the audience. The film does a good job of making sure that viewers don't feel any remorse for Sam but instead makes sure that the circumstances leading up to his demise is clearly understood by all. The only part of the story that doesn't necessarily ring true is the supposed friendship between Sam and Bonny because Sam is clearly a man who's working on loose hinges and I couldn't believe that Bonny would allow him to come over for dinner with his family! Mueller and Penn paint a deep portrait of a pathetic outsider who's desperate to be heard and though we certainly don't feel sorry for him the talent involved make this film a riveting affair to watch.