Killing Kennedy

Greetings again from the darkness. The premiere of this National Geographic channel production was held for a group of national writers and, thanks to the Dallas Film Society, we were able to be there for the very first theatrical screening – the first even for the writer and director, who were also in attendance. The event was held at the historic Texas Theatre, which of course, is where Lee Harvey Oswald was captured on that fateful November day in 1963.

Kelly Masterson (Before the Devil Knows You're Dead) wrote the screenplay for this movie based on the book co-written by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard, who also co-wrote "Killing Lincoln". It should be noted that neither the books nor their corresponding movies provide any new information, and actually stick very close to the traditionally accepted chain of events (in Kennedy's case that's The Warren Report). These works aren't meant to add fuel to the conspiracy theory fires, but rather to allow for straight-forward re-telling and visualization for those too young to have the images from 50 years ago etched into their memories.

This version in particular focuses on a 3-4 year period leading up to the assassination, and the parallels of Lee Harvey and Marina Oswald, and John and Jacqueline Kennedy. We witness the (fictionalized) account of Oswald renouncing his US citizenship and spending time in Russia where he meets Marina. Their return to the US focuses on his continued work at spreading the gospel of communism, especially supporting Casto's Cuba. We see a bit more of Oswald as a family man than what we are accustomed to, but we are never far from his Marine-gone-bad image … and there is certainly an emphasis on making the point that Oswald was an expert marksman (though the point is often debated) despite his alleged failed attempt on the life of Army General Edwin Walker.

On the other hand, the Kennedy's are portrayed as a loving couple, though JFK's flings are not ignored. Here, Jacqueline is the devoted and extremely supportive wife of a man somewhat insecure in his new level of power. Their love for each other is driven home with numerous (actually too many) lines of dialogue that basically say "the one thing I couldn't bear is losing you". The behind-the-scenes glimpses include JFK listening to the "Camelot" soundtrack, his back pain and subsequent injections, and the numerous cracks and concerns from all involved about traveling to Dallas, a city viewed as politically volatile and dangerous.

The now very famous footage of Oswald's final trek is expertly recreated mostly from the view point of Jack Ruby, though not much insight to Ruby is provided. Here he's merely a justice seeking citizen who is frustrated that his beloved President was shot. Of course many other theories abound, as with most every aspect of the event. There is a very vivid re-enactment of the Oswald/Officer JD Tippit confrontation, and the Texas Theatre capture seems pretty authentic. We get very little attention on the FBI, CIA or Secret Service, and we are presented with the stark contrast in the funerals of Oswald and Kennedy. Minimal actual footage of Kennedy or Oswald is used until the very end of the movie, which allows the viewer to remain in "fiction" mode … much of what we see is speculation from the lives of these two families.

Rob Lowe and Ginner Goodwin are effective as Jack and Jacqueline, and a hefty Casey Siemaszko has the look of Jack Ruby. Michelle Trachtenberg may be a bit too pretty for Marina, but her demeanor is as imagined. Natalie Gold gets a few scenes as Ruth Paine, a piece of the puzzle often ignored in the story. The best and most affecting performance here is that of Will Rothhaar as Oswald. He balances the passion for the cause with the mental instability, and we never view him a monster – just a misguided, desperate man. Director Nelson McCormick (mostly TV work) never really judges these characters, and in the process leaves it to us to answer the real question on Oswald … patsy or no patsy?

**NOTE: See this on the National Georgraphic Channel, airing November 10.

I enjoyed the film, mainly for 2 brilliant portrayals - Rob Lowe as JFK and Will Rothhaar as LHO. Otherwise,no more than an attempt to bolster up the Warren Commission and its supporters by treating the "findings" as undisputed fact. No way!! The trouble is, after 50 years, people are more and more likely to accept the party line and the murder of a great man will be put down to a disaffected nobody and Truth and Justice will continue to suffer. For example, an acquaintance of mine (English), aged 50, recently told me he understood JFK had been assassinated at his inauguration! With films like this, soon no-one will know or care about this awful crime. And the perpetrators will continue to get away with murder.

For those unfamiliar with that fateful day, this ridiculous Brothers Grimm fable does nothing but provide an outlet for those wishing to waste 2 hours. O'Reilly the so-called historian did nothing with his ' Killing Kennedy ' book turned into film except brutally murder the truth by parroting the completely discredited Warren Commission lie. Remember Bill O the one time Inside Edition reporter at large? The same guy who said he was present in Florida the moment Oswald confidant and probable CIA handler George De Morherenschilt committed suicide only to later discover the following day in was in a taped telephone conversation with the late and reputable JFK assassination researcher Gaton Fonzi asking what had happened to old George? In the JFK case alone, O'Reilly has about as much credibility for honesty as Bill or Hillary Clinton testifying under oath. Just as one example of the numerous preposterous scenes on full display, we have non-convicted assassin LHO STANDING while demonstrating his yet to be duplicated marksman proficiency gunning down JFK and wounding the Governor. Too bad the TBD 6th floor SE window at the time was only open 14 inches which meant that not only was LHO a superb marksman, he also managed to fire through a glass window three times without shattering it or leaving any trace of bullet holes. This pathetic vomit inspiring film was steered toward those completely clueless of the entire case or those clinging lone-nutter syncopates who are blind to reality of what really happened. This doesn't even take into account the illegal theft of JFK's remains from Parkland hospital later spirited away on AF-1 to its eventually place in Bethesda where the most inept, illegal and fraudulent so-called autopsy in history occurred. There isn't enough time or space available to address this case on this board. But suffice it to say that all the moronic film accomplished was nothing more that typical O'Reilly, Hanks, Posner, and Bugliosi lies to continue the dishonesty in certain halls of the US government and their lemmings in the media.

What a shame Rob Lowe's great portrayal of President Kennedy is wasted on such a sellout production of the notoriously inaccurate Warren Commission Report. Little if any makes sense in this story, but the real clincher is Jack Ruby's absurd scene of the teary eyed mobster all broken up for Jackie Kennedy's ordeal! Come on, give us a break! I think Lowe's portrayal is the best there's ever been, he really looks the part, but it will be forgotten in the movie's general feel of mainstream official story. Blah! Ginnifer Goodwin is also very good as Jacqueline Kennedy and she comes across as loving and dedicated as the real one must have been. Kudos also for Bobby and Ken O'Donnell. I don't think this one contains any spoilers, I mean we all know the story and how it ends, but what a waste of (prime)time!

This film was shot to celebrate one of the biggest American heroes , as the 50th anniversary of the death of President John F. Kennedy. A National Geographic production , which became a ratings hit for the network . Biographic picture concerns on John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), commonly known as "Jack" or by his initials JFK, he was the 35th President of the United States, serving from January 1961 until he was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in November 1963. As John F. Kennedy (Rob Lowe) rises to become U.S. president, Kennedy defeated Vice President and Republican candidate Richard Nixon in the 1960 U.S. presidential election ; at age 43, he was the youngest to have been elected to the office, the second-youngest president , and the first person born in the 20th century to serve as president , to date , Kennedy has been the only Catholic president ; meanwhile a former Marine , Lee Oswald (Will Rothhaar) grows disillusioned with America and emigrates to Russia . Events during JFK presidency included the Bay of Pigs Invasion, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Space Race—by initiating Project Apollo , the building of the Berlin Wall, the African-American Civil Rights Movement, and increased U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War . The pic deals with parallel lives from two different points of sight on existences of diverse characters , the murderer and the murdered ; along with their tragic aftermath . When their paths ultimately cross, the course of history is changed forever , as seen in this thrilling film about the assassination of JFK and its unfortunate consequences .

This is a biographic film about two different characters as JFK , it deals with his relationship to Jacqueline , historical events about Bay of Pigs (1961) and Cuban missile crisis (1962) ; while Harvey Oswald describing his progressive craziness and obsession . Being rightly based on the New York Times best seller written by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard . This is a compelling biographic thriller well starred by Rob Lowe as JFK , Ginnifer Goodwin as Jacqueline , Will Rothhaar as Lee Harvey Oswald , Michelle Trachtenberg as Marina Oswald , Jack Noseworthy as Bobby Kennedy and Casey Siemaszko as Jack Ruby . The motion picture was professionally directed by Nelson McCormick .

The picture was well based on historical deeds focusing especially JFK assassination . As President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, on Friday November 22, 1963, while on a political trip to Texas . He was shot once in the throat, once in the upper back, with the fatal shot hitting him in the head. Kennedy was taken to Parkland Hospital for emergency medical treatment, but pronounced dead at 1:00 pm. Only 46, President Kennedy died younger than any U.S. president to date. Lee Harvey Oswald, an employee of the Texas School Book Depository from which the shots were suspected to have been fired, was arrested on charges for the murder of a local police officer, but was never subsequently charged with the assassination of Kennedy. He denied shooting anyone, claiming he was a patsy, but was killed by Jack Ruby on November 24, before he could be indicted or tried. Ruby was then arrested and convicted for the murder of Oswald. Ruby successfully appealed his conviction and death sentence but became ill and died of cancer on January 3, 1967, while the date for his new trial was being set.President Johnson created the Warren Commission—chaired by Chief Justice Earl Warren—to investigate the assassination, which concluded that Oswald was the lone assassin. The results of this investigation are disputed by many. The United States House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) concluded that those investigations were flawed and that Kennedy was probably assassinated as the result of a conspiracy. The assassination proved to be an important moment in U.S. history because of its impact on the nation and the ensuing political repercussions.