Nixon

US (1995): Biography/Drama

Oliver Stone's controversial drama about the Nixon years in the White House stars Anthony Hopkins in a genuinely great performance as the scandal-plagued president. The film attempts to wed suggestions of Nixon's formative experiences as a boy to his political connections with shady movers and shakers and finally to his self-destructive tenure in the Oval Office. The Watergate scandal is revisited rather impressionistically -- it may be hard for viewers who weren't alive then to get a sense of what the crisis was about. The parade of stars playing figures in Nixon's orbit -- J.T. Walsh as John Ehrlichman, James Woods as H.R. Haldeman, David Hyde Pierce as John Dean, etc. -- is fun if a tad distracting. Joan Allen got a well-deserved Oscar® nomination as First Lady Pat Nixon, and Hopkins got one as well. (Amazon.com)

· Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 1995: Anthony Hopkins
· Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 1995: Joan Allen
· Achievement in Writing (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen) 1995: Stephen J. Rivele, Christopher Wilkinson and Oliver Stone
· Achievement in Music (Original Dramatic Score) 1995: John Williams

4 nominations