Ignorant Movie Review: Death of a President

Response to title:  Having heard about this movie prior to its theatrical release this review is another with more preconceptions than I would've liked.  At least most of what I have heard about the movie regards the controversy rather than the content, so I'll liken going into this movie with reading my first Daniel Steele novel after hearing nothing but bad things from other writer types; I'm fighting to keep an open mind amidst a storm of criticism.

Response to curbside poster:  This immediately calls up some of the black & white images of the Robert Kennedy assassination to me.

Response post-credits:  I'm torn about this film.  I applaud the artistic vision behind approaching the subject of George Bush Jr.'s assassination (October 19, 2007) as a Documentary.  In that vein, the story is linearly cogent and the casting was excellent; as no member of the cast is extremely well known, suspension of disbelief is far more possible, and the acting is solid-to-superb.  The narrative Documentary format, while good for creating an atmosphere of honest retrospection, does, at times, take on made-for-t.v. docudrama aspects (the protester and interrogating officer stand out to me ), but otherwise is a good vehicle for questioning the scope of post 9-11 internal American policies as well as for subtly pointing out some ideological inconsistencies of our government and citizenry.  Of course, the choice of this particular vehicle for conveying these notions is also the film's greatest weakness, in my mind.  Knowing the film covers the fictional assassination of a sitting American President, are the people who would benefit the most from a critical examination of American policy going to watch?  If there's a line on this bet in Vegas, I'd bet no.  It makes me tired watching somebody make a painting for a dark room.

Rating:  3.49 out of 5 Oly Stubbies.

Film Haiku:  Habeas corpus
          "you had an open window"
              no justice, no peace.

Can be seen:  Olympia Film Society
                        206 5th Ave N
                    Olympia, WA  98501

              Tuesday, January 23, 6:30pm
              Wednesday, January 24, 9pm
              Thursday, January 25, 6:30pm