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The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search |
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a healthy church...transformingLIFE |
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October 2005 |
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The Assassination of Richard NixonMovie reviewed by DaveO, Burnie The first full length feature film from Niels Mueller is a remarkable film, which while firmly a 70s story, explores contemporary themes. Inspired by an actual attempt on the life of Richard Nixon the movie takes only minor liberties with the historic event to provide a balanced tragedy. The opening scenes are odd and somewhat remote showing a man who has abandoned hope and perhaps even his sanity. But more significantly it shows us the man who feels betrayed by the outcome of his life, although his own choices and actions have actively added to his disappointments. The movie is visually stark to the point of harshness amplifying the alienation. In contrast the score is magnificent. Bernstein features both musically and as an off screen character. Cleverly this provides an ongoing inner voice explaining perspective and motivation without asides, laboured dialogue or annoying voice over commentary. When the movie replays the opening scenes it is a different viewing experience - familiar, but with the protagonist now known (and humanised) an audience response to the very human crisis is created. Any movie that explores truth, political integrity, and even the nature of the response of terrorism sets itself a difficult path, making a contemporary setting problematic. The familiarity of the 70s setting but the unfamiliarity of the specifics of the event provide a contemplative distance. By avoiding clichés and conclusions, and focusing rather on presenting the humanness of the players and their decisions Mueller provides a movie as thought-provoking as the audience chose to make it. An exceptional (feature) directing debut.
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