ViewGuide

Created Feb 17, 2011 05:57PM PST • Edited Feb 17, 2011 05:58PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Good 3.0

   Robert Kennedy was going to save America, according to his campaign staff. He was stirring the emotions and hope of a nation struggling with Viet Nam and racial tensions. An all-star cast is present in this film based on the shooting of Kennedy, providing the viewer with a patchwork of stories that intersected on the night of his shooting.

   The film represents a major undertaking by Emilio Estevez, who worked hard to get it produced and made. While he plays a smaller role in the film, there are plenty of big stars sharing the screen, each providing a slice of the collective story.

   But, therein lies the problem. The film suffers somewhat because he has too many slices. Rather than allowing some of the stories to fully develop, there are so many different ones that it can be distracting and disjointed at times. In my opinion, Estevez could have done much better by limiting some of these stories.

   There is also a healthy mix of Hollywood mixed into a true life event. The viewer should beware (as with all movies) that many dramatic licenses were taken with the story.

   Regardless, his shooting shocked a nation, and the last 15 minutes of the film capture that sense of loss.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

   Some nice performances are mixed in with some questionable ones. In some ways, it seems like Estevez tried to “shock and awe” the viewer with big names to cover up for some mediocre subplots.

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

6. Female Stars Good 3.0

7. Female Costars Good 3.0

8. Male Costars Good 3.0

10. Film

    OK 2.5

11. Direction OK 2.5

12. Play OK 2.5

13. Music OK 2.5

14. Visuals OK 2.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.3

17. Sex Titillating 2.0

18. Violence Fierce 2.0

    Obviously a shooting, but not a lot of other violence.

19. Rudeness Profane 3.0

    sex, drugs, swearing….not for the wee ones.

21. Reality

    Surreal 2.3

    Some hallucinatory trips after campaign workers decide to get stoned with Mr. Demi Moore. Yeah, its him, although his appearance is masked by some groovy hair and clothing.

22. Circumstantial Surreal 2.3

23. Biological Surreal 2.3

24. Physical Surreal 2.3