This movie to me is everything Michael Douglas’ FALLING DOWN wanted to be, if it wasn’t jammed into a police thriller format, which indirectly justified and glorified the vigilante’s actions.
Based on true events, this film chronicles the not-so-bright Samuel Bicke (Sean Penn, MYSTIC RIVER), who ended up attempting to hijack a commuter plane and force the crew to fly it into the White House. Bicke has a hard-time holding down a job, because he has an almost juvenile sense of moral superiority to the injustices around him. He has been separated from his wife Marie (Naomi Watts, 21 GRAMS) for nearly two years and she wants to have little to do with him, despite his belief that they will get back together. His only friend is black mechanic Bonny Simmons (Don Cheadle, HOTEL RWANDA), who probably pities Sam more than likes him. Sam has taken a new job selling office furniture, but he has a problem with the system that demands the bending of the truth and complete obedience (he has to shave his moustache).
We can relate to his outrage, but Sam takes it to an extreme where his problems are only magnified by his resistance to play the game even a little bit. There’s a great scene where Sam goes to his local Black Panther chapter and suggests including whites like him in the party. Sam perceives injustices from his boss Jack Jones (Jack Thompson, STAR WARS: EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES) and his successful brother Julius (Michael Wincott, THE CROW), but Sam in no way can see his own hypocrisy. As things gets worse in his life, Richard Nixon comes to represent everything that is wrong with America.
The film serves as a wonderful character study of an ignorant man who has had few chances in his life, but makes things worse with his impatience, self-righteousness and anger. Penn’s performance is amazing. He becomes a different person unlike I’ve seen him play before. He again proves that he is the actor of his generation. Watts and Cheadle are good but their parts are a bit underdeveloped. Thompson also gives a standout performance in a much meatier role.
The film doesn’t try to make you like Samuel Bicke — it just tries to make you understand him. We feel sorry for him as he spirals out of control past the point of no return. It reminded me of films like TAXI DRIVER and MONSTER. We don’t justify the crimes of the main characters, but we can understand how hate, loneliness and our own hubris can germinate evil within any of us.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
