Jul 13, 2008 02:50 AM
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This is a time of shame an sorrow. It is not a day for politics. I have saved this one opportunity my only event of today, to speak briefly to you about the mindless menace of violence in America which again stains our land and every one of our lives. It is not the concern of any one race. The victims of the violence are black and while, rich and poor, young and old, famous and unknown…”
“He saw wrong and tried to write it. He saw suffering and tried to heal it. He saw war and tried to stop it.” Can you guess who he is? Bobby. US Senator Robert F Kennedy, that is. A man who could change the United States, a man who could lead the Nation and stood united with Dr. Martin Luther King, a man who would run for the Presidency against Senator McCarthy. This is the setting for Emilio Estevez’ 2006 (Written and Directed) story, simply called Bobby.
The movie revolves around the assassination of Bobby Kennedy in June 1968. The platform is the eve of the party’s election at the Ambassador Hotel (originally in Los Angeles and filmed before demolished) in Indianapolis. With an all-star cast, we are in the midst of the calm before the storm, vignettes that intertwine characters that were present for the arrival and speech of Bobby Kennedy. We meet several characters, many big names but no one character to have top billing. Actual clips of footage of the Real Bobby Kennedy are used.
Sir Anthony Hopkins is John Casey, owner of the Ambassador Hotel, a lonely man who spends most of his days seated in his hotel lobby, playing chess or chatting with anyone who has time to spare. Among his friends is Harry Bellefonte, with whom he has remained friends for many years, an interesting friendship that has survived the emancipation of Blacks, a theme that runs throughout the film. Dr. Martin Luther King has been assassinated and the Blacks are now just atop the Hispanics on the ladder of hierarchy, depending on your point of view and where are from in the US.
A similar story with Freddy Rodriguez as Jose Rojas, a busboy that must work a double shift on this important night. He sadly has two tickets to the Dodgers game and has to work. Disappointing because Don Drysdale pitching what could be his 6th “shutout” game. He cannot risk losing his job because he one lucky Latino to be employed. He shares a vignette with Laurence Fishburne, Christian Slater who portrays the bigoted Food & Beverage Manager and William H Macy, the cheating spouse to Sharon Stone who plays his beautician wife Miriam. Her life involves Demi Moore, who plays the drunken singer, Virginia Fallon who is married to Emilio Estevez, Tim Fallon. Oddly enough, even Estevez has a minor role in the movie and unlike his comedic characters in other movies he plays this flawed, mustachioed man who evolves. Virginia Fallon is supposed to mildly depict Edie Gourmet, the late singer and wife of Robert Goulet.
Several other storylines that don’t seem to intersect: Helen Hunt as Samantha is married to Martin Sheen, Lindsay Lohan and Elijah Wood, who are getting married to avoid Woods deployment to Iraq. Now, remember, this is 1968. It is hard to imagine or believe that what is happening in 1968 is again happening here and now with the pending election for President in 2008 and our involvement in the was in Iraq. This is one aspect along with the themes of Segregation and the Right to vote.
Also great scenes with Shia LeBeouf as Cooper and Brian Geraghty, sent to the task of knocking on doors to promote their candidate, Bobby Kennedy. Knocking on Ashton Kutcher’s door, the pot-smoking Hippie, they begin an adventure on Acid and yet again intertwine in the other vignettes. Not only another side of the times in the 1960’s but comic relief from the seriousness of the primary story. We know and anticipate the hour when Bobby is to arrive and we are involved with the characters preparing for the evening. When the time finally arrives, we are still stunned by the Assassination as several of our characters are involved or touched by his death in some way.
Not only is the setting of the movie a fantastic stage, but also the direction, casting and subplots within are exceptional and brilliant. From the beginning, we know what is going to ultimately happen and yet we are entangled in the events of the day. The time in 1968 is so similar to today’s American politics that it is a bit eerie.
Since no one celebrity overtakes the stage, we connect with each unfolding story and makes the ending even more melancholy. I kept trying to relate each character to what I remembered from history but there are very few real people in the movie expect for Bobby himself.
Despite the factual errors, Do check this out on DVD. The movie is engaging and thought provoking as well as entertaining. A certain must see as a classic tale told in similar fashion as the Poseidon Adventure, Airport or Towering Inferno, meaning a similar style and connection with the audience, told in vignettes and with an undeniably impending finality.
