A box set of titles featuring one of America's most celebrated and controversial contemporary actors, Sean Penn.
The Assassination Of Richard Nixon: A chilling drama that explores and exposes the dark side of the American Dream, The Assassination of Richard Nixon focuses on the tragic true story of Sam Bicke (Sean Penn), a disillusioned everyman who, in 1974, was driven to plot the assassination of the 37th president of the United States.
Despite the fact that his marriage is breaking up and that he is trapped in a sales job he finds demeaning, Sam tries desperately to succeed both at home and at work; all he wants is to win his family back and to start a business of his own. However, in a society worn down by political corruption and the Vietnam War, there is not much room left for dreamers. Sam's world unravels against the backdrop of the Watergate scandal, which exposes culpability at the highest levels of society. With images of Nixon - "the greatest salesman of them all" - flooding the airwaves, Sam believes he has found the person responsible for his, and America's problems and makes his appointment with destiny.
(Dir. Niels Mueller, 20004, Cert. 15)
State Of Grace: Having been away for several years, Terry Noonan (Sean Penn) is reunited with his gangland friends, the ruthless Jackie Flannery (Gary Oldman) and his brother Frankie (Ed Harris), the Kitchen's most powerful racketeer. Terry grew up in Hell's Kitchen, he's streetwise and knows the rules. But returning as an undercover cop to the squalor of his childhood haunts, leads him deep into a dark underworld of deceit, corruption, betrayal and murder. He's been assigned to put Frankie Flannery out of business forever and if he makes one false move he won't even live to regret it...
(Dir. Phil Joanou, 1990, Cert. 18)
At Close Range: Based on a real life series of murders in 1970's Pennsylvania, At Close Range is a chilling portrayal of a family's life of crime.
When young Brad Whitewood Jr's (Penn) wayward father wanders back into his life, he is attracted by his dangerous dad's criminal activities. Soon Brad Jr and his half brother (played by Penn's real life brother Chris Penn) attempt to join the crime syndicate to make big money. But their crimes soon turn from theft to murder...
(Dir. James Foley, 1986, Cert. 15)
Casualties Of War: Hailed by critics as a masterpiece, Casualties Of War is based on the true story of a squad of soldiers caught in the moral quagmire of wartime Vietnam.
Witness to a vile crime, Private Eriksson (Michael J. Fox) is forced to stand alone against his fellow soldiers and commanding officer Sergeant Meserve (Sean Penn). A powerful and charismatic man pushed over the edge of barbarism by the terror and brutality of combat. With sweeping scope, action and raw power, master filmmaker Brian De Palma creates a devastating and unforgettable tale of one man's quest for sanity and justice amidst the chaos of war.
(Dir. Brian De Palma, 1989, Cert. 18)
Colors: In the 'hood, all that matters are your colors...
Bob Hodges (Duvall) is a seasoned street cop who has learned a lot from long experience, while his young partner, Danny McGavin (Penn), has learned nothing - and knows it well. Forced to work together in the LAPD's renowned CRASH anti-gang unit, they set out to investigate a brutal gang murder. Hated and hunted by both sides, the cops soon find themselves trapped in the middle of a turf war. With nowhere to turn, they are ambushed, double-crossed and shot at in a take-no-prisoners street battle. As the violence escalates, these two diametrically opposed men must come to terms with one important fact - to stay alive they must come together!
(Dir. Dennis Hopper, 1988, Cert. 18)