Despite the
widespread criticism of Killing Lincoln,
a recreation style adaptation of the best selling book by Bill O’Reilly and
Martin Dugard from producers Ridley Scott and Tony Scott, this was apparently
seen as reason to try again. Killing
Kennedy, also adapted from a book by O’Reilly and Dugard, at the very least
benefits from the disposing of recreation elements, instead approach the
narrative in a more straightforward manner. The unfortunate thing about this
final film is how much it resembles the superior Parkland feature film. The
simple truth is that this material is over-used and we have had enough films
about Kennedy’s assassination to last several decades.
Killing Kennedy is highlighted only by
the performances, and even those are not quite impressive enough to make up for
the film’s shortcomings. The film covers all of the same events that every
other piece of entertainment about Kennedy’s assassination also latched onto,
with the added material giving extra insight into the path of Lee Harvey Oswald
(Will Rothhaar). We follow his defection into Russia
The other half
of the story is very predictably dedicated to Kennedy, played by Rob Lowe. We
watch him all the way through his rise into the role as President and into the
grave. Ginnifer Goodwin plays Jacqueline Kennedy. Performances are fine enough,
though many sequences are a bit too heave-handed on the melodrama, mostly
enhanced by the female leads. While Lowe gives something of a subdued
impression of JFK, Goodwin chews the sets apart in her somewhat over-the-top
emotional portrayal of the grieving First Lady. In short, this feels far more
like a TV movie than it should.
The Blu-ray
release includes both the original televised version, as well as an extended
cut. The special features include a making-of featurette, as well as an
interview with author Bill O’Reilly and a couple additional featurettes.
Entertainment Value:
2/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 4/10
Historical
Significance: 1/10
Special Features: 5/10
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