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3 articles from 2004

29 December 2004 | Studio Briefing - Film News | See recent Studio Briefing - Film News news »

The Assassination of Richard Nixon, which turned up at the Cannes Film Festival last May but has rested on studio shelves ever since, finally makes its debut today, in an apparent attempt to capture the kind of serious reviews that will bolster its Oscar hopes. But several critics appear reluctant to oblige. Manohla Dargis in the New York Times faults the film for having "no discernible point ... no sense of larger purpose ... only craft and technique to recommend it." V.A. Musetto in the New York Post suggests that may be enough. He particularly praises Sean Penn for his "mesmerizing portrayal" of the real-life Samuel Byck, who attempted to hijack an airliner and crash it into the White House. Penn, writes Musetto, "allows us to understand his character's pain without approving of his actions." Jan Stuart in Newsday concludes that the film "is a triumph for its star and the writers, who make us cringe with empathy for a man who taps into the latent loser in all of us." But that's hardly a recommendation to Mike Clark in USA Today, who comments: "Even if audiences can get by the tasteless shock title, it's tough to figure who will ever watch this movie -- even when it's on cable." …

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28 December 2004 | Studio Briefing - Film News | See recent Studio Briefing - Film News news »

Oscar contenders in limited release performed strongly over the weekend. Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby took in $212,104 on eight screens -- or $26,513 per screen. Hotel Rwanda, starring Don Cheadle, drew $110,999 in seven theaters, or $15,857 per theater. And The Woodsman, starring Kevin Bacon, $61,200 on six screens, or $10,200 each. Although no major studio releases are scheduled for wide release on Friday, several much-talked-about indies will receive limited openings. They include A Love Song for Bobby Long, starring John Travolta, in eight theaters; The Assassination of Richard Nixon, starring Sean Penn, in four theaters; William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, starring Al Pacino, in four theaters; and In Good Company, starring Dennis Quaid in three theaters. …

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19 May 2004 | WENN | See recent WENN news »

Outspoken actor Sean Penn has attacked the movie industry for shying away from politics in films. The Oscar-winning screen star - who is currently promoting new movie The Assassination Of Richard Nixon at the Cannes Film Festival - is appalled by the lack of political content in contemporary cinema, because it proves Hollywood bosses are oblivious to the major issues in the world. His latest outburst follows his controversial trip to Iraq last year where he spoke out against the war - a move he believes cost him subsequent film roles. He says, "I don't think there is any art that doesn't respond to the times and I don't think there's enough political films here or anywhere. The politics, as we understand politics to be, are so present in our lives right now that any painting that doesn't reflect it in some ways is dismissible to me." The Assassination Of Richard Nixon is based on the true story of a furniture salesman who plotted to kill the former American President in 1974 by flying an airliner into the White House. …

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3 articles from 2004