Dick(film)

Dickis a 1999comedy filmdirected byAndrew Flemingfrom a script he co-wrote with Sheryl Longin. It is a comic reimagining of theWatergate scandalwhich ended the presidency ofRichard Nixonand features several cast members fromSaturday Night LiveandThe Kids in the Hall.Kirsten DunstandMichelle Williamsstar as Betsy and Arlene, two warm-hearted but unworldly 15-year-old friends, who – through various arbitrary circumstances – become the legendary "Deep Throat"figure who played a key role in bringing downthe presidency of Nixon(played byDan Hedaya). At the time of the film's release, the real identity of Deep Throat was not yet known to the public.

Dick
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Andrew Fleming
Written by	Andrew Fleming Sheryl Longin
Produced by	Gale Anne Hurd
Starring	Kirsten Dunst Michelle Williams Dave Foley Harry Shearer Dan Hedaya
Cinematography	Alexander Gruszynski
Edited by	Mia Goldman
Music by	John Debney
Production companies	Columbia Pictures Phoenix Pictures
Distributed by	Sony Pictures Releasing
Release date	August 4, 1999(1999-08-04)
Running time	94 minutes
Countries	Canada United States
Language	English
Budget	$13 million
Box office	$6.3 million (US)

Plot

Betsy Jobs and Arlene Lorenzo are two sweet-natured, ditzy teenagers living inWashington, D.C.,in 1972. Betsy comes from a wealthyGeorgetownfamily, while Arlene lives with her widowed mother in an apartment in theWatergate building.

On the night of the Watergate break-in, the girls sneak out of Arlene's home to mail a letter to enter a contest to win a date with teen idol singerBobby Sherman.They sneak through the parking garage by taping the latch of a door, accidentally causing the break-in to be discovered. Seen byG. Gordon Liddy,they panic and run. The security guard is startled by the taped door and calls the police, who immediately arrest the burglars.

The next day, at theWhite Houseon a school tour, they happen across Liddy again. They do not recognize him, but he recognizes them and becomes suspicious. He points them out toH. R. Haldeman,who interrogates them. Their conversation (revealing the girls do not think about the president much) is interrupted by a phone call from his wife, and then byPresident Nixonhimself, who takes Haldeman aside to complain about the bugging operation being fouled up.

The girls are awestruck at being in the same room as Nixon – but more so at being able to play with his dog, which gives him an idea. To keep their silence, he appoints them his official dogwalkers – which means they must be admitted repeatedly to the White House. On these visits they accidentally influence major events such as theVietnampeace process and the Nixon–Brezhnevaccord, by bringing along cookies that they have inadvertently bakedmarijuanainto.

Later, when Betsy's brother, Larry, reveals the cookies' "secret ingredient" and hears the President ate them, he concludes that this explains Nixon's paranoia. The girls become familiar with the Nixon administration's key players, includingHenry Kissinger,and accidentally learn the major secrets of theWatergate scandal.

Arlene, previously infatuated with Bobby Sherman, now falls equally hard for the president. Just after reading an18½-minutemessage of love into his tape recorder, she plays back another part of the tape, hears his coarse, brutal rantings, and realizes his true nature. When they confront Nixon, he fires and threatens them.

They now reevaluate what they have learned and decide to reveal everything to the "radical muckraking bastards" (Nixon's words) atThe Washington Post,Bob WoodwardandCarl Bernstein.So they become informants: two 15-year-old girls are the true identity of the famousDeep Throat(Betsy's brother had just been caught watching thefilm of the same name).

Woodward and Bernstein – portrayed as petty, childish, and incompetent – are naturally skeptical of the two girls. To make matters worse, their only piece ofphysical evidence,a list of names of those involved from theCommittee to Re-Elect the President,is eaten by Betsy's dog.

Nixon's men realize the girls are a real threat and attempt tactics such asbuggingandundercover agentsto discover what they know, going so far as to break into Betsy's house and plant an agent as Arlene's mother's boyfriend. Eventually pushed to the limit after being chased by the Watergate"plumbers",they decide to take action.

Sneaking into Haldeman's house, the girls find and take a crucialtape recording.They give a transcription of it to Woodward and Bernstein (keeping the tape as a "souvenir" ), thus ending Nixon's political career. Nixon finds Arlene's message on his tape and erases it, reasoning that he would be "crucified" if it was perceived that he had an affair with a 15-year-old girl.

Following his resignation, as his helicopter flies over Betsy's house, the girls hold up a sign with the phrase "You suck, Dick", further angering the now ex-president.

Cast

• Kirsten Dunstas Betsy Jobs
• Michelle Williamsas Arlene Lorenzo
• Dan Hedayaas PresidentRichard "Dick" Nixon
• Will FerrellasBob Woodward
• Bruce McCullochasCarl Bernstein
• Teri Garras Helen Lorenzo
• Dave FoleyasH. R. Haldeman
• Jim BreuerasJohn Dean
• Ana GasteyerasRose Mary Woods
• Harry ShearerasG. Gordon Liddy
• Saul RubinekasHenry Kissinger
• Devon Gummersallas Larry Jobs
• Ted McGinleyas Roderick
• Ryan Reynoldsas Chip
• G. D. SpradlinasBen Bradlee
• Karl Pruneras Frank Jobs
• French Stewartas the interviewer

Production

Writers Andrew Fleming and Sheryl Longin attempted to write several different scripts with teenage girls as protagonists. The idea of using the Watergate scandal came from a real-life experience Longin had with Nixon when her family stayed at the same hotel as Nixon. As a child, she and a friend pelted Nixon with ice cubes, causing a minor disturbance. Fleming said that he was surprised at the attempts to rehabilitate Nixon's image, and Longin cited the Watergate scandal as a defining political moment for their generation. She said she channeled the resulting anger and cynicism into the script. Several people told the duo that various gags went too far. Fleming, who believed Nixon got off easily, said they fought to keep everything. They approachedBen BradleeandJohn Deanto play themselves, but both declined.

Release

Sony's marketing research indicated teenage girls were the film's biggest demographic, so promotional material focused on Dunst and Williams instead of the political aspects.Dickwas released in the United States on August 4, 1999.It grossed $2.2 million in its opening weekend, opening at No. 12 in 1522 theaters. It went on to gross $6.3 million in the US.

Home media

On December 14, 1999,Dickwas released onVHSandDVDbyColumbia TriStar Home Video.Eighteen years later, on November 6, 2018,it was released onBlu-raybySony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Reception

On thereview aggregatorwebsiteRotten Tomatoes,Dickholds an approval rating of 72% based on 74 reviews, with an average rating of 6.4/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "A clever, funny slice of alternate history,Dickfarcically re-imagines the Watergate era and largely succeeds, thanks to quirky, winning performances from Michelle Williams, Kirsten Dunst and Will Ferrell. "OnMetacritic,the film has a score of 65 out of 100 based on reviews from 21 critics.

Leonard Maltingave the film three stars, calling it a "clever cross ofCluelessandAll the President’s Men".Todd McCarthy,in his review forVariety,called it an "audacious, imaginative political comedy" that will appeal more to adults than teenagers.Stephen HoldenofThe New York Timesdescribed it as "an uproariously dizzy satire" that was inspired by theLewinsky scandal.Writing for theLos Angeles Times,Kevin Thomassaid the film "is so sharp and funny it should appeal to all ages".Rita Kempley ofThe Washington Postdescribed it as "more fun than you ever thought you'd have with Richard Nixon".The film's acting received critical commentary. Thomas positively compared Hedaya's performance toAnthony HopkinsinNixon,and Kempley called Hedaya "no less adept" than Hopkins.Holden wrote that Hedaya's portrayal of Nixon is "the year's funniest film caricature".Thomas called Dunst and Williams "a constant delight".

Awards

Year	Award	Category	Subject	Result
2000	Satellite Awards	Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical	Dick	Nominated
		Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Comedy or Musical	Dan Hedaya	Nominated
	Young Artist Awards	Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress	Michelle Williams	Nominated
	YoungStar Award	Best Young Actress/Performance in a Motion Picture Comedy	Kirsten Dunst	Nominated

Soundtrack

Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Dick
Soundtrack albumby various artists
Released	1999
Recorded	Ocean Way,Nashville(track 1 only)
Genre	1970spopular music
Length	50:29
Label	Virgin
Producer	Ralph Sall

All sixteen compositions areTop 40hit songsfrom the 1970s, but two were not recorded until after the Watergate scandal had ended.They are "Lady Marmalade"and"Dancing Queen",which were released three months and two years later, respectively.Sixpence None the Richer'scover versionof the latter song is the album's opening track and the only one recorded for the film.

Captain & Tennille's "Love Will Keep Us Together"had been considered for use in the film, but the politically conservativeDaryl DragonandToni Tennilledid not appreciate the film's irreverence and denied the rights to their cover.Led Zeppelin's "Over the Hills and Far Away"was originally intended to accompany the closing scene, but Fleming eventually realizedCarly Simon's "You're So Vain"was a better fit and used it instead.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Performer	Length
1.	"Dancing Queen"	Benny Andersson,Björn Ulvaeus,Stig Anderson	Sixpence None the Richer	4:00
2.	"ABC"	Berry Gordy,Deke Richards,Alphonzo MizellandFreddie Perren	The Jackson 5	2:57
3.	"Crocodile Rock"	Elton John,Bernie Taupin	Elton John	3:53
4.	"Lady Marmalade"	Bob Crewe,Kenny Nolan	Labelle	3:19
5.	"Rock On"	David Essex	David Essex	3:24
6.	"Hooked on a Feeling"	Mark James	Blue Swede	2:51
7.	"Popcorn"	Gershon Kingsley	Hot Butter	2:31
8.	"Rock Your Baby"	Harry Wayne Casey,Richard Finch	George McCrae	3:18
9.	"Love's Theme"	Barry White	The Love Unlimited Orchestra	3:33
10.	"Mr. Big Stuff"	Joseph Broussard, Carrol Washington, Ralph George Williams	Jean Knight	2:28
11.	"The Loco-Motion"	Gerry Goffin,Carole King	Grand Funk Railroad	2:45
12.	"Come and Get Your Love"	Lolly Vegas	Redbone	3:32
13.	"Coconut"	Harry Nilsson	Harry Nilsson	3:46
14.	"Brother Louie"	Errol Brown,Tony Wilson	Stories	3:55
15.	"You're So Vain"	Carly Simon	Carly Simon	4:17
16.	"I've Seen All Good People"	Jon Anderson,Chris Squire	Yes (band)	3:21

External links

• DickatIMDb
• DickatRotten Tomatoes